Rhododendron serrulatum (Small) Millais

Hammocksweet Azalea

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Hammocksweet Azalea is a native deciduous shrub in the Heath family (Ericaceae). It is native to the southern third of the state. Hammocksweet Azalea occurs in gallberry-titi thickets, in bay forests, along black water streams, and around sinkhole ponds. It is a shrub or small tree from 8-20 feet in height. It often has a single trunk and is non-rhizomatous. The bark is smooth and gray in color. Young twigs are reddish-brown in color and pubescent. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate to obovate in outline, and pubescent with non-glandular hairs. The leaves are relatively thick and are dark green above and light green below. The leaves are ciliate along the margins with hairs that curl under the margin of the leaf. Flowers are produced from terminal buds on last season’s shoots. There are 3-8 white, fragrant flowers per inflorescence. The flowers are produced in the summer, well after the leaves have matured. Individual flowers are funnelform with 5 spreading lobes. The corolla tube and outer surface of the corolla are densely pubescent with stalked glands. The stamens and style are long exserted. The flowers are often tinged light pink when in bud. The fruit is a glandular pubescent capsule. Hammocksweet Azalea is sometimes lumped within the Swamp Azalea complex (Rhododendron viscosum (Linnaeus) Torrey). It differs by being a larger, non-rhizomatous plant and by the color (darker green) and texture (thinker) of the leaves. Hammocksweet Azalea is available from some nurseries. It prefers a moist, organic rich soil. Hammocksweet Azalea can tolerate considerable shade and still flower.--A. Diamond

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Native

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