• Photo of Rhododendron flammeum (Rhododendron flammeums)

Plant Profile: Rhododendron flammeum

Taxonomy: Rhododendron flammeum

Names

Oconee Azalea, Piedmont Azalea

  • Photo of Rhododendron flammeum (Rhododendron flammeums)

Phonetic Spelling:rho-doh-DEN-dron FLAM-ee-um

Genus:Rhododendron

Species:flammeum

Family:

The Piedmont Azalea is a shrub that can be either evergreen or deciduous, belonging to the Ericaceae family. This plant is indigenous to the mountainous regions of South Carolina and Georgia. In April, it showcases its vibrant flowers, which bloom in large clusters and come in a spectrum of colors, including yellow, pink, and red. Notably, this azalea exhibits a good tolerance for both heat and humidity.

For optimal growth, it should be planted in soils that are rich in humus, acidic, moist, yet well-drained, and ideally situated in partial to dappled shade. It's important to avoid poorly drained soils, as they can cause root rot. The Piedmont Azalea is versatile and can be used in various settings, such as woodland gardens, for naturalizing, as foundation plantings, or as a standout specimen, hedge, or part of a shady shrub border.

For further details on Rhododendron, additional resources are available.

Rhododendron flammeum Feature Summary

Rhododendron flammeum Image Gallery

Tags

#hummingbirds
#evergreen
#deciduous
#heat tolerant
#specimen
#wildlife plant
#pink flowers
#nectar plant
#native bees
#shade garden
#orange flowers
#specialized bees
#groups
#pollinator plant
#naturalized area
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#bee friendly
#problem for horses
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Rhododendron flammeum is often confused with:

Rhododendron flammeum Feature Summary

Attributes
Members of the genus Rhododendron support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Andrena) cornelli. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Seed
Stem Cutting
Layering
Fruit
Elongated capsule with many seeds
Brown/Copper
Flowers
1.2 to 1.8 in. scarlet, yellow, pink, salmon, bright red tubular flowers with a darker splotch on the upper lobe and long extruded stamens in clusters up to 15 flowers in April -May
Pink
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Orange
4-5 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Leaves
Up to 3.5-inch long oval leaves with yellow fall color.
Elliptical
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Poisonous to Humans
Salivation, watering of eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure, difficult breathing, progressive paralysis of arms and legs, coma.
Andromedotoxin, Grayantoxin
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Mountains
Piedmont
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Shade Garden
Border
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Specimen
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Pollinators
Specialized Bees
Hummingbirds
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Rhododendron flammeum Attributes

Rhododendron flammeum: Country Or Region Of Origin

southeastern U.S.

Rhododendron flammeum: Wildlife Value

Members of the genus Rhododendron support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Andrena) cornelli. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Rhododendron flammeum: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Rhododendron flammeum Fruit

Rhododendron flammeum: Fruit Description

Elongated capsule with many seeds

Rhododendron flammeum: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Rhododendron flammeum: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper

Rhododendron flammeum Flowers

Rhododendron flammeum: Flower Description

1.2 to 1.8 in. scarlet, yellow, pink, salmon, bright red tubular flowers with a darker splotch on the upper lobe and long extruded stamens in clusters up to 15 flowers in April -May

Rhododendron flammeum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Rhododendron flammeum: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Rhododendron flammeum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Rhododendron flammeum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Rhododendron flammeum: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Rhododendron flammeum: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Rhododendron flammeum Leaves

Rhododendron flammeum: Leaf Description

Up to 3.5-inch long oval leaves with yellow fall color.

Rhododendron flammeum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Rhododendron flammeum: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Rhododendron flammeum: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Rhododendron flammeum: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Rhododendron flammeum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Rhododendron flammeum: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Rhododendron flammeum: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Rhododendron flammeum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Rhododendron flammeum: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Rhododendron flammeum: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Rhododendron flammeum Poisonous to Humans

Rhododendron flammeum: Poison Symptoms

Salivation, watering of eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure, difficult breathing, progressive paralysis of arms and legs, coma.

Rhododendron flammeum: Poison Toxic Principle

Andromedotoxin, Grayantoxin

Rhododendron flammeum: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Rhododendron flammeum: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Rhododendron flammeum: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Rhododendron flammeum Whole Plant Traits

Rhododendron flammeum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Rhododendron flammeum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Rhododendron flammeum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Rhododendron flammeum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Rhododendron flammeum: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Rhododendron flammeum: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Rhododendron flammeum Cultural Conditions

Rhododendron flammeum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Rhododendron flammeum: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Rhododendron flammeum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Rhododendron flammeum: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Rhododendron flammeum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Rhododendron flammeum: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Rhododendron flammeum Stem

Rhododendron flammeum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Rhododendron flammeum Landscape

Rhododendron flammeum: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Rhododendron flammeum: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Rhododendron flammeum: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Rhododendron flammeum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Rhododendron flammeum: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Rhododendron flammeum: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy