Florida flame azalea, Orange azalea
Rhododendron austrinum
Ericaceae


Landscape Uses:

Specimen plant or shrub beds.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Available at native plant nurseries in northeast and central Florida.
Description:
Open, irregular deciduous shrub 3-10 feet tall and wide. Showy clusters of yellowish orange flowers in late spring. Leaves 1-4 inches long.
Height:
Typically 3-10 feet in height, as broad as tall.
Growth Rate:
Range:
Southern Mississippi to southern Georgia south to the Florida Panhandle and north Florida from Escambia to Leon counties. A population is also present in Baker county.
Habitats:
Slopes, bluffs, wooded stream banks.
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy soils, with humusy top layer and acid pH.
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:
Full sun to moderate shade.
Flower Color:
Yellowish orange.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
Late spring.
Fruit:
Narrow, light brown capsule 1 inch long.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators.
Horticultural Notes:
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. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


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