Oconee Azaleas – Rhododendron flammeum | Beautiful Flower Pictures Blog

This spring, I have photographed some incredible azaleas. The challenge has been figured out what types of azaleas I’ve been photographing. There are seventeen species of azaleas that are native to the Southeastern United States – plus countless hybrid varieties. Add to this the fact that just about any orange azalea is referred to as a flame azalea – and you can see where it begins to get complicated.

While I was photographing in Tennessee and North Carolina in late April and early May, I photographed several sets of azaleas that were referred to as Flame Azaleas. It turns out they are actually Oconee or Piedmont Azalaes (Rhododendron flammeum). The true Flame Azaleas (rhododendron calendulaceum) bloom much later in the year.

Oconee Azaleas (Rhododendron flammeum) are known for their bright colors – ranging from yellow to orange to deep reds. They depend on their colorful blossoms to attract pollinators since they are non-fragrant azalea. The Oconee Azaleas bloom in late April through early May – after the Florida Azaleas (Rhododendron austrinum) and before the Flame Azaleas (Rhododendron calendulaceum). The Oconee Azaleas were first discovered along the Oconee River in Georgia in 1787. The botanical name – flammeum – refers to the flame colored veil (flammeum) that Roman brides wore over their white dresses to protect themselves from evil.

I photographed two wonderful sets of Oconee Azaleas at Reflection Riding Arboretum in Chattanooga, Tennessee in late April.

At the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, I photographed two additional varieties of Oconee Azaleas. The first “Salmon Form” had incredible red flowers.

The final Oconee Azalea I photographed was the Flint River Azaleas – a cross between Rhododendron flammeum and Rhododendron canescens

I really like the bright colors that I was photographing in the Oconee Azaleas. I’m looking forward to finding more of them to photograph next spring.