The North Carolina Arboretum is ideally located for such a repository. Ten of the azalea species are found in the Southern Appalachians, nine in North Carolina and five in Buncombe County. The majority of the species are found within 100 miles of the Arboretum. F lower, C olor, S cent Azaleas have many positive attributes that make them perfect for the home landscape. The peak azalea flowering time is early to mid May, but some species flower as early as April and as late as frost in autumn.
Azaleas have a wide variety of flower colors including orange, yellow, red, pink and white.
Many species are not only colorful but also fragrant. Others are at home in moist, streamside locations. Rhodora is found from New England to the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Western azalea grows entirely west of the Mississippi and is found from California to Washington. R. eastmanii is a new native found only in a few counties in South Carolina.