Carolina Azalea Rhododendron minus var. minus

Piedmont rhododendron is a compact dwarf, woody, evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family. Native to the eastern United States and growing only 1 to 2 feet tall and wide, it is found in the woods and mountains, on moist slopes, streamsides, rocky cliffs, and ridges in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The genus name derives from the Greek words rhodo, which means rose, and dendron, meaning tree.

Grow this rhododendron in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained, acidic soils, but with protection from afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves. It does not tolerate dense clay, so if you have clay soil, amend with organic material. Plant the root ball high in the soil to help with drainage issues. Avoid overwatering and over-fertilizing. It is heat tolerant but also surprisingly cold hardy (to -5°F). Pruning, if desired, may be done after flowering. 

Piedmont rhododendron works well as understory shrubs planted in groups in woodland or naturalized areas, or as specimens in pollinator gardens where the flowers will attract hummingbirds and bees.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Insect problems include aphids, borers, lace bugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, nematodes, scale, thrips and whitefly.  Diseases include canker, crown rot, root rot, leaf spot, rust, and powdery mildew.  Full sun can scorch the leaves, and the roots rot if soil does not drain well. This plant suffers from deer browsing.  In harsh winters the leaves may burn somewhat, but the plant is unharmed and aggressively springs back. 

While rhododendrons remain very popular for landscape use, many cultivars are susceptible to Phytophthora root rot—this leads to leaf loss, reduced vigor, branch dieback, and wilting. Implement good cultural practices first, such as improving drainage with organic matter or berms and avoiding overwatering or overfertilization.

For suitable alternatives, see this video created by Charlotte Glen as part of the Plants, Pests, and Pathogens series.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

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