Rhododendron atlanticum

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Rhododendron atlanticum
Rhododendron atlanticum flowers0.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Rhododendron
Species:
R. atlanticum
Binomial name
Rhododendron atlanticum

Rhododendron atlanticum, the dwarf azalea [1] or coastal azalea, is a species of Rhododendron native to coastal areas of the eastern United States, from New Jersey south to Georgia.

Contents

It is a very tough plant, responding to overgrazing or forest fires by generating new shoots. [2]

Description

Rhododendron atlanticum is a compact, loosely branched, deciduous shrub that typically grows to be two to three feet tall at maturity but can grow up to six feet, and is two to three feet wide. [3] It is a deciduous shrub 50–150 cm (20–59 in) tall, forming a thick understory in forests, spreading by underground stolons. The leaves are 3–5 cm long and 1–2 cm broad, bluish green, and hairless or with scattered glandular hairs. The fragrant flowers are 3–4 cm long, usually white to pink, sometimes with a flush of yellow; they are produced in trusses of 4-10 together.

Distribution and habitat

Rhododendron atlanticum is found in upland woods, on bluffs, stream banks and open sandy woods. [4] This species ranges from Delaware to Georgia in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. [5]

Taxonomy

Rhododendron atlanticum has nine synonyms listed below: [5]

Uses

Rhododendron atlanticum can be used in azalea breeding programs for its fragrance. Rhododendron atlanticum is a non-toxic species sometimes available in the nursery trade. This species is often used in landscaping because its fragrance attracts pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds as well as it being a showy flower. [6] This species has a medium tolerance to drought and fires, and requires cold stratification for germination. Rhododendron atlanticum produce pinkish-purple flowers in early spring. [7]

Hybridization

The two species that create a hybrid form as a response to herbivory from leaf beetles are Rhododendron periclymenoides and R. atlanticum. [4]  Candy Lights is an ornamental hybrid that uses R. atlanticum as a parent plant. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Rhododendron</i> Genus of flowering plants in the heath family Ericaceae

Rhododendron is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants and in the heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are native to eastern Asia and the Himalayan region, but smaller numbers occur elsewhere in Asia, and in North America, Europe and Australia.

<i>Rhododendron canadense</i> Species of Rhododendron shrub

Rhododendron canadense, the rhodora or Canada rosebay, is a deciduous flowering shrub that is native to northeastern North America.

<i>Rhododendron occidentale</i> Species of plant

Rhododendron occidentale, the western azalea or California azalea, is one of two deciduous Rhododendron species native to western North America. The western azalea is known to occur as far north as Lincoln and Douglas Counties in Oregon and as far south as the mountains of San Diego county. Typically found in the coastal ranges of western North America, it also grows in the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, but is not known east of them.

<i>Rhododendron luteum</i> Species of plant

Rhododendron luteum, the yellow azalea or honeysuckle azalea, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae, native to southeastern Europe and southwest Asia. In Europe, it occurs from southern Poland and Austria, south through the Balkans, and east to southern Russia; and in Asia, east to the Caucasus.

<i>Rhododendron schlippenbachii</i> Species of rhododendron native to the Korean peninsula

Rhododendron schlippenbachii, the royal azalea, is a species of Rhododendron native to the Korean Peninsula and adjacent regions of Northeast China, Japan, and the Russian Far East. It is the dominant understory shrub in many Korean hillside forests, growing at 400–1,500 m (1,300–4,900 ft) altitude.

<i>Ribes echinellum</i> Species of shrub

Ribes echinellum, the Miccosukee gooseberry, is a very rare North American shrub in the currant family, native to the southeastern United States. It has only a few known populations. The Florida populations were discovered first, in 1924 at Lake Miccosukee. The South Carolina populations were found in 1957 and 1981, and the first is protected at Steven's Creek Heritage Preserve.

<i>Rhododendron calendulaceum</i> Species of plant

Rhododendron calendulaceum, the flame azalea, is a species of Rhododendron. It is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 120–450 cm tall. This species of Rhododendron is native to the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States, ranging from southern Pennsylvania and Ohio to northern Georgia. It may be extirpated from Pennsylvania and Alabama. It occurs naturally in mixed deciduous forests and is typically found in woodland slopes and mountain balds in the Appalachians, where it prefers dry and rocky mountain woods. The inflorescences of Rhododendron calendulaceum are visited by many animals such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and small mammals. It is a popular cultivated plant due to its bright yellow, orange or red flowers.

<i>Rhododendron macrophyllum</i> Species of plant

Rhododendron macrophyllum, the Pacific rhododendron, California rosebay, California rhododendron, coast rhododendron or big leaf rhododendron, is a large-leaved species of Rhododendron native to the Pacific Coast of North America. It is the state flower of Washington.

<i>Rhododendron viscosum</i> Species of flowering plant

Rhododendron viscosum, the swamp azalea, clammy azalea or swamp honeysuckle, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae. This deciduous shrub, growing to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall and broad, is native to the eastern United States. It has rounded matt green leaves. In early summer it produces funnel-shaped white flowers flushed pink. The flowers have prominent stamens and are strongly fragrant.

<i>Rhus aromatica</i> Species of shrub

Rhus aromatica, the fragrant sumac, is a deciduous shrub in the family Anacardiaceae native to North America. It is found in southern Canada and nearly all of the lower 48 states except peninsular Florida.

<i>Rhododendron periclymenoides</i> Species of shrub

Rhododendron periclymenoides, the pink azalea or pinxter flower, is a species of shrub in the heath family Ericaceae. It is native to eastern North America, where it is widespread from Alabama to New Hampshire. It is often found in riparian areas, in wet to dry forests.

<i>Rhododendron arborescens</i> Species of flowering plant

Rhododendron arborescens, also known as smooth azalea or sweet azalea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to the eastern seaboard of the United States.

<i>Rhododendron austrinum</i> Species of plant

Rhododendron austrinum is a species of flowering plant in the heath family known by the common names Florida flame azalea, honeysuckle azalea, southern yellow azalea, and orange azalea. It is native to the southern United States, where it can be found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi. It is also a common ornamental plant.

<i>Rhododendron vaseyi</i> Species of flowering plant

Rhododendron vaseyi is a species of flowering plant in the heath family known by the common name pinkshell azalea. It is endemic to the Appalachian highlands of North Carolina in widely scattered locations. While there is a main center of distribution west of Asheville, there is also a large population on Grandfather Mountain, in the northwestern corner of the state.

<i>Rhododendron minus <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> minus</i> Variety of plant

Rhododendron minus var. minus, the Carolina azalea or Carolina rhododendron, is a rhododendron species native to the mountains of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Northeast Georgia. It is commonly known as Rhododendron carolinianum in the horticultural trade.

<i>Rhododendron molle</i> Species of plant

Rhododendron molle (羊踯躅) is a rhododendron species native to China and Japan, where it grows at altitudes of sea level to 2500 meters. This deciduous shrub grows to 50–200 cm (20–79 in) in height, with leaves that are oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 5–11 by 1.5–3.5 cm in size. The flowers are yellow with dark red flecks.

<i>Rhododendron mucronulatum</i> Species of flowering plant

Rhododendron mucronulatum, the Korean rhododendron or Korean rosebay, is a rhododendron species native to Korea, Mongolia, Russia, and parts of northern China. It is a deciduous shrub that grows to 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) in height, with elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate leaves, 3–7 cm long by 1–3.5 cm wide. The reddish-purple flowers appear in late winter or early spring, often on the bare branches before the foliage unfurls. It inhabits forested regions at 1,600–2,300 m (5,200–7,500 ft).

<i>Rhododendron prinophyllum</i> Species of plant

Rhododendron prinophyllum, the early azalea, is a rhododendron species native to the eastern and southern United States. It is a deciduous shrub that grows 4 to 8 feet in height. Flowers are pink.

<i>Rhododendron flammeum</i> Species of plant

Rhododendron flammeum, the Piedmont azalea or Oconee azalea, is a plant species native to the US states of Georgia and South Carolina. It is found in dry woods and stream bluffs at elevations less than 500 m. The common name is taken from Oconee County, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American azaleas</span> Subsection of plants

North American azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus Rhododendron, section Pentanthera, subsection Pentanthera, so named because they all have five stamens. Most are in the United States, with one species found in Canada and one being found in Mexico. North American azaleas are commonly confused with azaleas of Asian origin, the evergreen azaleas. North American azaleas are deciduous and produce two types of buds. One is a larger and produces about 20 flowers while the other bud produces a leafy shoot. The flower color, fragrance, and number of stamens vary among species.

References

  1. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Rhododendron atlanticum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  2. "Rhododendron atlanticum". Trees and Shrubs Online. International Dendrology Society. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  3. "Rhododendron atlanticum - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  4. 1 2 King, Bruce L. (2000). "Natural Hybridization between Rhododendron periclymenoides and R. atlanticum Relative to Herbivory by Pyrrhalta rufosanguinea". Castanea. 65 (3): 179–192. ISSN   0008-7475.
  5. 1 2 "Rhododendron atlanticum (Ashe) Rehder | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  6. "Rhododendron atlanticum (Coastal Azalea, Dwarf Azalea) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  7. "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  8. Hokanson, Stan C.; McNamara, Steve; Zuzek, Kathy; Rose, Nancy; Pellett, Harold (2005-10-01). "Rhododendron 'Candy Lights' and 'Lilac Lights'". HortScience. 40 (6): 1925–1927. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI.40.6.1925 . ISSN   0018-5345.