Rhododendron arborescens – Sweet Azalea

A fragrant azalea for woodland edges, along streams or under a window. It grows fairly fast into a rather large, rounded shrub with glossy leaves and flowers that are redolent with the odor of vanilla and jasmine, especially prominent in early evening. The pure white flowers have blood red styles and filaments which create a subtle but lovely contrast against dark green foliage. In fall the foliage adds striking color to lightly shaded settings as it turns a rich red to purple before falling. This azalea is indigenous to the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania south to Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. In southern mountain forests it sometimes grows to be almost a small tree, reaching 20’ high. In our area, though, Smooth Azalea, while perfectly cold hardy, is unlikely to reach anywhere near that height.