Name: Sweet Azalea (Rhododendron Arborescens) - 3 Gallon Pot
SKU: D2LSC 2195993532
Availability: InStock

Sweet Azalea

Rhododendron arborescens

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub or Tree

Height at Maturity: 8-12′

Width at Maturity: 8-12′

Spacing: 6′ for solid hedges; 14’+ for space between plants

Flower Color: White w/Red stamens

Flower Size: 2″

Flowering Period: Spring / Early Summer

Flower Type: Single, Trumpet-shape

Fragrant Flowers: Yes!

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Part to Mostly Shade, Dappled Shade, Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained

Soil pH: 4.5 – 6.5 (Acid to Slightly Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Heat, Humidity, Insect, Shade

Description

Rhododendron arborescens, commonly known as “sweet azalea” for its fragrant flowers, “smooth azalea” for it glabrous leaves and stems, or “tree azalea” because of its height to 8 to 12 feet tall and equally as wide. Clusters of fragrant, funnel-shaped white flowers appear later than most other azaleas from May to July, after the leaves have appeared. What’s really neat is that each pristine white flower contains a deep red style and dark pink to red stamens which reach out far beyond the trumpet. It has smooth, elliptical, dark green leaves that flash white undersides and turn red to purple in fall.

The Sweet Azalea is native to areas along streams on woodland slopes and moist shrubby balds in the Appalachian Mountains from southern Pennsylvania and eastern Kentucky to Georgia and Alabama. It is also sometimes found near bogs and swampy woodland areas. Though many sources say it is only hardy south to USDA Zone 7, some folks we know in Florida USDA Zone 8 are having good success. That said, we suggest afternoon shade or dappled shade in Zone 8.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 8 to 12 feet tall and equally as wide, the Sweet Azalea can be grown as a large shrub or lower branches removed to form a small tree. It is ideal for use as a specimen or in groupings in woodland borders, near streams or other areas of the landscape that provide moist but well-drained soils rich in organic matter and shade to part shade. Avoid direct afternoon sun. A fine selection for fragrance gardens, Azalea gardens, woodland gardens, white theme gardens, and cottage gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 3 to 4 feet for hedge or grouping; 8 feet or more for space between plants

Growing Preferences

The Sweet Azalea is easy to grow in moist but well-drained soil of average to high fertility and part shade. Some suggest full sun tolerance throughout the zones where it is listed hardy, however, we always like to play it safe and provide a break from from direct sunlight during the mid afternoon hours. That said, with adequate moisture you might have success in full sun in Zones 4 through 7. Native azaleas are very low-maintenance, requiring little if any pruning. That said, occasionally we might prune a stray branch that is spoiling the natural form of the plant.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, prune, fertilize and water native azaleas.

How To Plant & Care For Native Azaleas

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I was amazed at how well this 3 gallon beautiful Azalea arborescens was packed! A quite large plant didn’t suffer any damage during the long trip to New Hampshire. Very happy customer. Thank you!———————–You’re welcome! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I went to the nursery website to search out a native US shrub for a partly shaded area, great search functions, easy to peruse for zone, light needs. Came across a 3 G Sweet Azalea for a good price – their description was perfect and confirmed with reference sites. The specimen that arrived was 3’ tall, securely boxed and it great shape. I am often hesitant to to buy mail order on shrubs since I can’t pick the specimen – this one was perfect as have others from this nursery – order without hesitation, you’ll be pleased,———————————–WOW! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Received the plant in great shape. It is doing well————————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I bought 4 3-gallon sweet azaleas and 2 other plants on another occasion. All came well packaged, and this far are doing very well. The azaleas are about a year old now, have yet to flower, however, are growing happily in their new home and I expect an impressive bloom next year. 2 vines I purchased about 6 weeks ago and they are doing wonderfully also. Thanks Wilson Bros. for your great products!——————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Arrived very well packed, and when I opened the box it had very full buds and I smelled the sweet aroma. I commend the way this was packed and it is going to be a feature plant in my gardens. Thank you.———————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This plant arrived in a timely fashion and rigorously packed. It was in perfect condition. I am delighted to have found Wilson Bros. I have received only quality plants and am glad to have found a nursery still selling larger plants that I can order online.————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This is my first purchase from Wilson Brothers and had no idea what to expect but very few nurseries carry this species and I needed 3 for a new garden. I ordered early in the season for a better chance of getting the number I needed. I did not expect to receive them before planting time in my area. I live near the Canadian border in Maine and cannot plant until May. However the plants were shipped within a week and arrived in perfect condition, thanks in part to the careful packaging and dormancy of the plants. The 3 gallon pots were as expected but the size and overall health of the plants exceeded expectations. The growing medium is high quality, hence a substantial, healthy root ball. All stems are strong and straight with buds intact. Their move from Georgia to Maine in the winter has prompted me to hold them in an area that approximates current Georgia climate conditions until they can be hardened off before planting here. I’m almost certain that I would not be successful in this endeavor if the plants were not of their current quality and health. Hats off to Wilson Brothers. I highly recommend them.—————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! Thanks for the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG