Rhododendron atlanticum
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 Rhododendron atlanticum at Stuckey, South Carolina
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| Rhododendron atlanticum (Ashe) Rehd. |
Rhododendron atlanticum (Dwarf azalea or Coastal azalea), is a species of Rhododendron native to coastal areas of the eastern United States, from New Jersey south to Georgia.
It is a deciduous shrub 50-150 cm tall, forming a thick understory in forests, spreading by underground stolons. The leaves are 3-5 cm long and 1-2 cm broad, bluish green, and hairless or with scattered glandular hairs. The fragrant flowers are 3-4 cm long, usually white to pink, sometimes with a bit of yellow; they are produced in trusses of 4-10 together.
[edit] Cultivation and uses
It is not widely cultivated in North America, but has been introduced and is popular in England. In the U.S. it is regarded as a good plant for heavy soils, but will spread itself too freely if planted in sandy soils.
