Alabama azalea
Rhododendron alabamense
Ericaceae


Landscape Uses:

Specimen plant or shrub beds.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries in northern Florida.
Description:
Shrub 4-8 feet tall with fragrant, white flowers.
Height:
Typically 4-8 feet in height.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Central Tennessee south through Alabama and western Georgia to Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson counties.
Habitats:
Hammocks.
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Light shade.
Flower Color:
White.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
Late spring.
Fruit:
Brown capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Attracts pollinators.
Horticultural Notes:
Poisonous to humans.
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.


Lilly Anderson-Messec via her Instagram account @lilliumbyrd.
Lilly Anderson-Messec via her Instagram account @lilliumbyrd.