Summary
The garden is ablaze with color in the heat of summer when the fiery orange to red flowers of plum-leaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium) emerge against the backdrop of dark green shiny leaves. This native azalea is a delightful surprise for the summer garden when planted in part shade with acidic well-drained, slightly moist soils. Plum-leaf azalea makes an excellent specimen or background shrub in the garden reaching 8-10′ tall with an upright, irregular layered habit. It makes an excellent garden companion for Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), drooping leucothoe (Leucothoe fontanesiana), flowering dogwood (Benthamidia florida), black bugbane (Actaea racemosa), Carolina rhododendron (Rhododendron minus var. minus), Canada lily (Lilium canadense), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), and mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). Zones 5-8.
More Details
- Plant Type
shrub - Sun/Shade Conditions
filtered-to-partial-shade - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
average-to-moist - Flowering Period
mid-to-late-summer - Soil PH
acidic - Flower Color
orange-salmon, red - Summer Foliage Color
green - Fall Foliage Color
green, orange, red, yellow - Fruit/Seed Color
brown
Additional Information
Flora of North America, USDA Plants Database, Rhododendron Society