About Rhododendron austrinum (Small) Rehder
Rhododendron austrinum (Small) Rehder is a flowering plant species in the heath family. Its common names include Florida flame azalea, honeysuckle azalea, southern yellow azalea, and orange azalea. It is native to the southern United States, specifically found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi, and is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. This deciduous shrub grows up to 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide, with oval leaves that measure 2 to 4 inches long. It produces abundant blooms before new spring leaves emerge. Its funnel-shaped flowers, which grow in clusters of up to fifteen, are typically yellow or orange, carry a pleasant scent, and have protruding stamens that extend up to 2 inches out from the flower opening. Cultivated garden plants of this species produce showy, fragrant blooms in shades ranging from yellow and cream to nearly red. The flowers attract both hummingbirds and butterflies. In the wild, this is a regional endemic that occurs in and around the Florida Panhandle, where it grows in moist, wet acidic substrates in ravines and other similar areas. It is currently threatened by habitat destruction caused by land conversion for agriculture, silviculture, and other human uses.
