Sweet Azalea
Rhododendron arborescens
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-8b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub or Tree
Height at Maturity: 8-12′
Width at Maturity: 8-12′
Spacing: 6′ for solid hedges; 14’+ for space between plants
Flower Color: White w/Red stamens
Flower Size: 2″
Flowering Period: Spring / Early Summer
Flower Type: Single, Trumpet-shape
Fragrant Flowers: Yes!
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: No
Berry Color: NA
Sun Needs: Part to Mostly Shade, Dappled Shade, Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun
Water Needs: Average
Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained
Soil pH: 4.5 – 6.5 (Acid to Slightly Acid)
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Heat, Humidity, Insect, Shade
Description
Rhododendron arborescens, commonly known as “sweet azalea” for its fragrant flowers, “smooth azalea” for it glabrous leaves and stems, or “tree azalea” because of its height to 8 to 12 feet tall and equally as wide. Clusters of fragrant, funnel-shaped white flowers appear later than most other azaleas from May to July, after the leaves have appeared. What’s really neat is that each pristine white flower contains a deep red style and dark pink to red stamens which reach out far beyond the trumpet. It has smooth, elliptical, dark green leaves that flash white undersides and turn red to purple in fall.
The Sweet Azalea is native to areas along streams on woodland slopes and moist shrubby balds in the Appalachian Mountains from southern Pennsylvania and eastern Kentucky to Georgia and Alabama. It is also sometimes found near bogs and swampy woodland areas. Though many sources say it is only hardy south to USDA Zone 7, some folks we know in Florida USDA Zone 8 are having good success. That said, we suggest afternoon shade or dappled shade in Zone 8.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 8 to 12 feet tall and equally as wide, the Sweet Azalea can be grown as a large shrub or lower branches removed to form a small tree. It is ideal for use as a specimen or in groupings in woodland borders, near streams or other areas of the landscape that provide moist but well-drained soils rich in organic matter and shade to part shade. Avoid direct afternoon sun. A fine selection for fragrance gardens, Azalea gardens, woodland gardens, white theme gardens, and cottage gardens.
Suggested Spacing: 3 to 4 feet for hedge or grouping; 8 feet or more for space between plants
Growing Preferences
The Sweet Azalea is easy to grow in moist but well-drained soil of average to high fertility and part shade. Some suggest full sun tolerance throughout the zones where it is listed hardy, however, we always like to play it safe and provide a break from from direct sunlight during the mid afternoon hours. That said, with adequate moisture you might have success in full sun in Zones 4 through 7. Native azaleas are very low-maintenance, requiring little if any pruning. That said, occasionally we might prune a stray branch that is spoiling the natural form of the plant.
Helpful Articles
Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, prune, fertilize and water native azaleas.
How To Plant & Care For Native Azaleas
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