Rhododendron atlanticum

Dwarf Coastal Azalea, one of the smaller native azaleas at about 6 feet (with more exposure to light, usually on the order of 4 feet), occurs in sand hill and coastal communities from southern New Jersey to Georgia. It is adorned in spring (April, May) with clusters of wonderfully aromatic, funnel-shaped flowers, with gracefully exserted stamens, usually bright white with pink accents, emerging before or with the leaves. R. atlanticum is a hardy, colonial shrub, preferring well drained, lighter soils and partial shade. In heavier soils it spreads less aggressively. Its shorter stature than other native azaleas makes this a very manageable plant for woodlines, foundation plantings, or garden edges. It often hybridizes or intergrades in the wild with R. periclymenoides in the north and R. canescens in the south. The blooms of R. atlanticum are similar to, although larger than those of Swamp Azalea (R. viscosum), but these latter open after the leaves emerge, from late May through June. R atlanticum was the winner of the 2016 Rhododendron of the Year award (Mid-Atlantic region American Rhododendron Society). R. atlanticum is much used in breeding programs.