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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Rhododendron arborescens [= Azalea arborescens]

Smooth Azalea, Sweet Azalea

Scientific Name:

Rhododendron arborescens [= Azalea arborescens]

Genus:

Rhododendron

Species Epithet:

arborescens

Common Name:

Smooth Azalea, Sweet Azalea

Plant Type

Shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Invasive Status:

(*Key)

Size:

3-6 ft., 6-12 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Moist, Wet

Bloom Time:

May, June, July

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Rocky riversides, wooded stream banks, swamps, high elevation forests, shrub balds. Fairly common in the lower NC mountains, but mostly uncommon to infrequent in the Piedmont. It is very rare in the western Coastal Plain. Probably absent from the Sandhills region.

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Important for Wildlife

Landscape Value:

Highly Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S4: Apparently secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G4 - Apparently Secure, G5 - Secure (*Key)

Notes:

The strongly scented white flowers do not appear until well after the leaves are fully grown.

Jackson County, NC

The Scientific Name is Rhododendron arborescens [= Azalea arborescens]. You will likely hear them called Smooth Azalea, Sweet Azalea. This picture shows the  of Rhododendron arborescens [= Azalea arborescens]

Bettina Darveaux

Notice the very dark green and shiny leaves

Jackson County, NC

The Scientific Name is Rhododendron arborescens [= Azalea arborescens]. You will likely hear them called Smooth Azalea, Sweet Azalea. This picture shows the Notice the very dark green and shiny leaves of Rhododendron arborescens [= Azalea arborescens]

Bettina Darveaux

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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