Fragrant Native Azaleas for Your Garden

Want sweet smelling native azaleas for your borders, gardens, or patio? Below are good selections to help you choose the best one for your application. Planting instructions and thorough descriptions of each fragrant native azaleas are given.

Rhododendron periclymenoides (Michx.) Shinners (Pink Azalea)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Dilleniidae -

Order Ericales -

Family Ericaceae - Heath family

Genus Rhododendron L. - rhododendron

Species Rhododendron periclymenoides (Michx.) Shinners - pink azalea

This native shrub gets up to 3-6 feet tall and has a 3-8 foot spread. It likes partial shade and acidic moist soil. It has fragrant pink flowers in mid spring to early summer. Its deciduous foliage is leathery. It's a good solid azalea choice for blooms and foliage. BEWARE: Parts are poisonous if ingested.

Rhododendron viscosum (L.) Torr. (Swamp Azalea)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Dilleniidae -

Order Ericales -

Family Ericaceae - Heath family

Genus Rhododendron L. - rhododendron

Species Rhododendron viscosum (L.) Torr. - swamp azalea

This native shrub gets up to 4-6 feet tall and has an equal spread. It prefers light shade and acidic moist soil. Its fragrant pink, white, or yellow flowers appear in late winter to early spring. There is deciduous foliage. You can propagate this by semi hardwood cuttings. BEWARE: Parts are poisonous if ingested.

Rhododendron arborescens (Pursh) Torr. (Sweet Azalea, Smooth Azalea)

Kingdom Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass Dilleniidae -

Order Ericales -

Family Ericaceae - Heath family

Genus Rhododendron L. - rhododendron