Azalea, Plumleaf

Description

Botanical Name:     Rhododendron prunifolium

Common Name:     Plumleaf Azalea

Description:     First off, plumleaf azalea is native to the border of southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia along tributaries of the Chattahoochee River. Some of my sources say there have been historical reports of it being seen in the wild in Florida’s upper panhandle, but the Atlas of Florida Plants doesn’t have it listed at all. I am going to say it is not a Florida native. So, do with that info what you will.

Plumleaf azalea is one of the few North American native azaleas that bloom mid to late summer: around July to September.  (NOTE:  This is NOT the Encore hybrid azaleas.) It blooms brilliant orange-red to red (sometimes pink) funnel-shaped flowers in clusters of four to five. The flowers have no fragrance. The stamens are very long and protruding. The alternate, simple foliage is shiny and dark green. It is a deciduous shrub, so it’ll lose its leaves in the winter.  It’s a large azalea that matures at 8 – 12 feet tall x 6 – 10 feet wide. Some very old specimens in perfect growing conditions can get 15 – 20 feet tall. It has a moderate growth rate of 6 – 12 inches per year after becoming established. It does not form thickets or colonies.

Its native habitat is as an understory shrub growing in sandy ravines along stream banks and woodland edges, so give it a part shade to filtered shade area of your garden with moist, acidic, well-drained soil. It likes the soil pH to be under 6.0. It will struggle in alkaline soil. It likes to be shaded from direct afternoon summer sun. This is not considered a drought tolerant plant. Planting the rootball a bit high will help give it the good drainage it needs. Grows fine in loam or sandy soils. Does not like heavy clay soil.

Poison garden alert!  As with all rhododendrons and azaleas, all parts of this shrub are poisonous to people and animals if eaten because of its toxic compounds called grayanotoxins. It is not poisonous to touch.

Plumleaf azalea has a special value to bumble bees, azalea miner bee, and other native bees. It also attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. This is not deer resistant.

The plumleaf azalea has no tolerance to salty soil, air, or spray. Exposure to high salt levels causes root damage, leaf scorch, and plant decline.

This plant in 3-gallon containers is 1 – 3 feet tall.

Plant Lore:  The genus name derives from the Greek words rhodo, which means rose, and dendron, meaning tree.

Florida Hardiness Zones 8 – 9