Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Rhododendron calendulaceum
Also known as Azalea calendulaceum
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Fiery orange to red flowers open in late spring on a native azalea that gets genuinely large, 4 to 8 feet tall and spreading 8 to 10 feet. Rhododendron calendulaceum grows in part shade, hardy from Zone 5 through Zone 9.
The flowers have no scent, which is unusual among the native deciduous azaleas, but the color is the strongest orange available in a hardy shrub and it reads from a long way off.
Hummingbirds come to the flowers, along with bees and butterflies.
Flame azalea grows wild on open woodland slopes and mountain balds in the Appalachians, so it needs well-drained acidic soil rather than the wet ground the swamp azaleas take. Morning sun with afternoon shade suits it. It spreads wider than tall with age, so give it horizontal room.
Height 4'- 8' Spread 8'- 10'
USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9
Lowest Temperatures -20°F to -10°F
Part shade - 4 to 6 hours of direct sun per day, mostly before midday
AL, CT, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV
