swamp azalea
Rhododendron viscosum
RHS AGM 1993
USDA zones4 to 9
SunHandles full sun to full shade
WaterHandles dry to wet soil
Size3 to 5 feet tall3 to 5 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- White to pale pink
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam
- Soil pH
- Acidic (pH<6.8)
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum) is a shrub for borders, specimen planting, rain gardens, and woodland edges. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, or down to -30°F (-34°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and dry to wet, sandy or loamy soil. The sweet-scented white flowers open after the leaves, making it one of the last azaleas to bloom in spring. Its sticky blooms give it the nickname clammy azalea. Rabbits usually look elsewhere for a meal.
Pairs well with Cardinal flower, Black chokeberry, and Sedge.
Native range
Eastern and southern United States.