Azalea culture: A Southern love affair

Written by Emily Cabrera
Illustrations by Lavi Astacio

Planting both evergreen and native azaleas can help extend seasonal color.
Azaleas thrive in acidic, well-drained soil with organic matter, partial shade and consistent moisture, along with careful planting, mulching and pruning after bloom.
UGA scientists are studying the genetics of native species to identify traits such as compact growth and heat tolerance, making them more practical for modern landscapes.

Few plants embody the Southern garden quite like the azalea. Evergreen azaleas have long been a staple in home gardens, and each spring cultivated beauties brighten Georgia landscapes, from Savannah’s graceful squares to backyard borders.

The deciduous, native cousins to these showy shrubs are gaining attention among gardeners seeking fragrance, pollinator value and a more natural form.

Meet the Experts

Bodie V. Pennisi, Vincent J. Dooley Professorship in Horticulture; Emphasis: Commercial & sustainable landscape; pollinators

Lav Kumar Yadav, Assistant Professor: Ornamental Horticulture and Bioinformatics

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialists say gardeners succeed in Georgia’s varied climate by understanding the differences between evergreen and native azaleas and how to plant and care for them.

Evergreen and native azaleas

Evergreen azaleas, many bred from Asian species, retain their foliage year-round and grow in low, dense mounds. They offer a wide range of colors and flower forms, from single-petal blooms to ruffled doubles. Hybrid groups such as Kurume, Southern Indian and Encore azaleas dominate many Georgia landscapes.

Large pink azalea bushes in bloom in front of a house, likely a native hybrid. — Azaleas are a defining feature of Southern gardens, bringing vibrant spring color to landscapes across Georgia. With the right site conditions and care, both evergreen and native azaleas can thrive in home landscapes for decades. (Photo by Sue Myers Smith)

Native azaleas, by contrast, are deciduous. They lose their leaves in fall and typically grow taller and more open, sometimes reaching 15 feet. Their tubular flowers, often fragrant and appearing in shades of white, pink, orange and red, bloom in staggered waves from early spring into summer.

“Planting both evergreen and native types is one of the best ways to enjoy azalea color for months,” said Bodie Pennisi, a UGA Extension horticulturist and author of “Selecting and Growing Azaleas.”

By combining species and hybrids with different bloom times, gardeners can have azaleas flowering from March through October.

Keys to success in Georgia gardens

Azaleas belong to the heath family, along with blueberries and mountain laurel, and prefer acidic soils. They grow best in soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0 that is rich in organic matter.

Moist, well-drained soil is essential, as azaleas do not tolerate standing water. Amending planting areas with pine bark or leaf compost improves both drainage and acidity.

Thriving in partial shade, filtered morning sun with some cover in the afternoon is ideal. Too much sun can scorch leaves, while excessive shade can reduce flowering.

Before planting, loosen the root ball and set shrubs slightly above ground level to encourage drainage. Water thoroughly at planting and mulch with pine straw or shredded bark to conserve moisture. Because azaleas are shallow-rooted, they dry out quickly. Check soil moisture regularly, water deeply as needed, and fertilize lightly after bloom with a slow-release or azalea-specific fertilizer.

Prune immediately after flowering to shape plants or remove old wood. Avoid heavy pruning later in summer, which can remove the following year’s flower buds.

Azaleas are not without challenges. Evergreen types are particularly susceptible to azalea lace bugs, which cause yellow stippling on leaves.

Lace bug feeding causes fine stippling on azalea leaves, which is the earliest and most common sign of infestation. As damage progresses, leaves may fade to a pale yellow or whitish color. (Photo by Bodie Pennisi)

Diseases such as petal blight and root rot can also occur, especially in poorly drained sites or where overhead irrigation is used. Selecting appropriate species and practicing good cultural care are the most effective defenses.

Green azalea leaves with several infected leaves that are discolored and drying out around the tips and edges. — Azaleas are part of the rhododendron genus, which is especially susceptible to *Phytophthora* root rot. Pictured is a rhododendron with wilting, yellowing leaves and branch dieback. The disease develops most often in poorly drained soils, making proper site selection and drainage critical for healthy plants. (Photo by Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org)

Azalea species to try in Georgia

Georgia’s climate varies widely from the mountains to the coast. Gardeners should check their U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone and consult their local UGA Extension office before selecting plants.

Native deciduous azaleas

Piedmont azalea (Rhododendron canescens): Grows up to 15 feet tall with fragrant pink to white flowers. Adapted to much of Georgia.

A native piedmont azalea growing in an understory. The shrub is tall and sparse in contrast to most evergreen azaleas. — Piedmont azalea (*Rhododendron canescens*), a native deciduous species, grows naturally along woodland edges and streambanks across much of Georgia. (Photo by Lav Yadav)

Close up of trumpet shaped flowers with long stamens, clustered together and radiating outward from a branch. — In the wild, Piedmont azaleas thrive where filtered light and moist, well-drained soils support their fragrant spring flowers. (Photo by Lav Yadav)

Flame azalea (R. calendulaceum): Produces vivid orange-red blooms. Best suited to cooler mountain regions.

Close up of thin trumpet shaped flowers with prominent stamens. they are clustered more linearly and have leaves close by. — Flame azalea (*Rhododendron calendulaceum*) is native to the Appalachian region of the Southeast.

Close up of thin trumpet shaped flowers with prominent stamens. they are densely clustered in a linear pattern. — Flame azaleas bloom in late spring and come in a wide range of colors, from soft yellow and gold to vivid orange and deep red.

Smooth azalea (R. arborescens): Features white to pink flowers with a red tube. Thrives in moist sites.

Trumpet shaped flowers with prominent stamens clustered amidst leaves. — Smooth azalea (*Rhododendron arborescens*), also known as sweet azalea, is native to the Southeast. This deciduous shrub thrives in moist, woodland habitats and brings a light, spicy scent to forest understories.

A close up of trumpet shaped flowers clustered in a small group. — Sweet azalea occasionally produces soft pink blooms and appears in late spring to early summer, attracting a variety of pollinators to woodland gardens and natural areas. (Photo by Dow Gardens, Bugwood.org)

Swamp azalea (R. viscosum): Summer-blooming with sweetly scented flowers. Tolerates wetter soils with good drainage.

A large shrub of swamp azalea with blooms against a forested background and mulch on the ground. — Swamp azalea (*Rhododendron viscosum*) thrives in moist soils along streambanks, wetlands and woodland edges across the Southeast.

Close up of a single bloom surrounded by buds. The buds are covered in small hair like structures. — Swamp azalea blooms have long, arching stamens that release a sweet, clove-like fragrance in late spring and early summer. (Photo by Rebekah D. Wallace, UGA, Bugwood.org)

Plumleaf azalea (R. prunifolium): Native to southwest Georgia, with late-summer blooms in deep red to orange.

A small cluster of trumpet shaped flowers with long prominent stamens. — Plumleaf azalea (*Rhododendron prunifolium*) is known for its fiery orange to red blooms that appear in midsummer, later than most other azaleas. Found naturally along streams and wooded slopes, it adds vivid color to the landscape when many spring flowers have already faded.

Evergreen and hybrid azaleas

Kurume hybrids: Compact plants with reliable spring blooms.

A densely flowered shrub with flowers or buds covered every branch. — Kurume azaleas are prized for their dense growth habit and abundant spring blooms, making them a popular choice for colorful borders and foundation plantings.

Southern Indian hybrids: Large-flowered and vigorous, best suited to central and south Georgia.

A large, single, densely petaled flower amidst small, oblong leaves. — Southern Indian azaleas are valued for their large, showy blooms and ability to thrive in the warm, humid conditions of southern landscapes.

Encore azaleas: Reblooming varieties that extend color into late summer and fall.

Medium sized blooms with petals that curve and ripple along their edges. — Encore azaleas are bred to bloom multiple times a year, producing colorful flowers in spring, summer and fall.

Satsuki hybrids: Late-spring bloomers with diverse flower forms that benefit from cold protection in north Georgia.

Medium sized blooms, with a single layer of petals that fan outwards accompanied by some small leaves. — Satsuki azalea hybrids bloom later in the season and are prized for their intricate flowers, which can display stripes, speckles and multiple colors.

Research spotlight: breeding the future of azaleas

On the UGA Griffin campus, Lav Yadav, an assistant professor of ornamental horticulture and bioinformatics, leads research on the genetics and breeding of ornamentals, including azaleas. His work blends traditional horticulture with advanced bioinformatics to better understand the genetic traits that shape plant size, flowering and resilience.

A person squats next to a shrub while while examining the flower structure of the blooms. — Researcher Lav Yadav studies native Piedmont azaleas, exploring the extraordinary variation within these Southeastern species. He is working to breed more compact, landscape-friendly varieties. (Submitted photo)

During his doctoral research, Yadav studied the Piedmont azalea and identified a gene associated with dwarf growth. Developing compact forms of native azaleas could make these species more practical for smaller landscapes.

“When gardeners plant azaleas, they often choose what they see in catalogs or older landscapes,” Yadav said. “But there’s extraordinary, untapped variation in our native species — variation in growth form, bloom timing and tolerance to Georgia’s heat.”

By integrating genetics, breeding and conservation, Yadav’s work builds on decades of UGA azalea research while driving toward new possibilities.

A living tradition

Whether gardeners choose evergreen hybrids or tall, fragrant native species, azaleas remain one of the South’s most recognizable plants. With thoughtful site selection, attentive care and continued research support, Georgia gardeners can keep this tradition blooming across the state.