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Plumleaf Azalea Wikimedia Commons
Ericaceae

Plumleaf Azalea

Rhododendron prunifolium

Endurance through adversity.

Family
Ericaceae
Genus
Rhododendron
Native to
United States
Bloom season
Summer
Type
shrub
Height
8-15 ft
Sunlight
partial shade
Soil
acidic, moist, well-drained
Water
moderate
Hardiness
5-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • It is the last native azalea to bloom in North America, flowering in July and August when most azaleas are long finished.
  • Its natural range is extremely limited, found only along the Georgia-Alabama border in ravines and stream banks.
  • The species was not formally described until 1917, making it one of the last North American azaleas discovered by Western science.
  • Hummingbirds are its primary pollinators, drawn to its vivid red-orange tubular flowers.
  • It is listed as a threatened species in Alabama due to habitat loss from logging and development.

Color meanings

0

temperance

1

patience

2

passion

Uses

  • ornamental garden plantings
  • woodland gardens
  • wildlife habitat