Florida flame azalea

Sun

Partial shade, ideally morning sun and afternoon shade. More sun is suitable where summers are cool and the soil stays moist.

Water

Keep evenly moist but not waterlogged, especially during establishment and hot, dry weather. Established plants tolerate brief dry spells better than many azaleas.

Soil

Acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soil, ideally pH 4.5-6.0. Avoid chalky soil and sites that remain saturated.

Height

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Spread

4-8 ft (1.2-2.4 m)

Flowers

Early to mid-spring; fragrant, funnel-shaped yellow to golden-orange flowers, often with reddish tubes and long projecting stamens.

Foliage

Soft green, oval leaves, often softly hairy beneath; autumn colour varies from yellow to bronze or muted red.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.9 ft (0.88 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.3 m)

4. After 3 years

   5 ft (1.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply during dry spells, wetting the root area rather than repeatedly sprinkling the surface.
• Mulch with 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of leaf mould, composted bark or pine needles, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Plant with the top of the root ball level with, or slightly above, the surrounding soil.
• Feed lightly in spring with an acid-loving plant fertiliser only if growth is weak; avoid heavy or late-season feeding.
• Keep cultivation shallow because the fine roots lie close to the soil surface.

Pruning. Prune only as needed immediately after flowering, shortening stray shoots and removing crowded or damaged branches. Avoid routine shearing and late pruning, which removes developing flower buds.

Early spring

Check soil moisture and apply a light feed if growth was weak the previous year.

Spring

Enjoy the flowers and check young leaves for chewing damage or discolouration.

Late spring

Once flowering finishes, make any necessary shaping cuts before new flower buds develop.

Summer

Water during dry spells and inspect leaf undersides for lace bugs.

Autumn

Plant while the soil is workable and refresh the organic mulch; in cold regions, spring planting is safer.

Winter

Check drainage and remove broken branches, leaving healthy shoots untrimmed.

• Plant at a woodland edge with ferns and spring bulbs for flowers before the tree canopy fills out.
• Use in an acidic mixed border with camellias and other azaleas for a longer flowering season.
• Place near a path or seating area where the flower fragrance can be appreciated.
• Group several beneath high-canopied trees for an informal display, avoiding dense shade and heavily competing roots.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Southern, Traditional, Wildlife garden, Pollinator garden and Sensory garden.

Plant it with: Camellias, Mountain laurel, Oakleaf hydrangea, Christmas fern, Foamflower and Daffodils.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies; hummingbirds may visit within their native range. The branching growth offers shelter for small birds.

• Azalea lace bugs cause pale stippling on leaves, often with dark spots beneath. Reduce drought stress and treat leaf undersides with insecticidal soap where locally approved, following the label.
• Root rot causes wilting and dieback in wet soil. Improve drainage, avoid overwatering and remove badly affected plants.
• Yellow leaves with green veins often indicate iron deficiency caused by alkaline soil. Test the pH; use a suitable acidic bed rather than repeatedly treating unsuitable chalky ground.
• Powdery mildew can leave a pale coating on leaves. Improve air circulation, avoid crowding and clear fallen infected foliage.

Toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten. All parts, including leaves, flowers and nectar, contain grayanotoxins; ingestion can cause vomiting, weakness, dangerous heart disturbances and potentially death. Seek urgent medical or veterinary advice after suspected ingestion.

• Flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum)

  Usually has larger, broader-lobed flowers in yellow, orange or red with little or no fragrance; Florida flame azalea has distinctly fragrant flowers with relatively narrow tubes.

• Piedmont azalea (Rhododendron canescens)

  Has similarly early, fragrant flowers with long stamens, but they are normally pink to white rather than yellow or orange.

The species name austrinum means southern, while Florida flame azalea refers to its native region and warm-coloured flowers.

Propagation. Layer low branches in spring, leaving them attached until well rooted. Seed produces variable plants and takes several years to reach flowering size; softwood cuttings taken in late spring or early summer need high humidity and can be difficult to root.

Accepted botanical name

Rhododendron austrinum

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.