Rhododendron atlanticum
| Rhododendron atlanticum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Rhododendron atlanticum at Stuckey, South Carolina | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Rhododendron |
| Subgenus: | Pentanthera |
| Section: | Pentanthera |
| Species: | R. atlanticum |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhododendron atlanticum Rehder | |
Rhododendron atlanticum (Greek Ροδόδενδρο) (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.
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.