- © 2025 Annapolis Home Magazine
- All Rights Reserved
By Kymberly Taylor
Photos courtesy of Historic London Town & Gardens
It’s spring and native azaleas, Rhododendron sect. Pentanthera, are bursting into view and into our lives: clouds of lavender, pink, red, white, and orange are so vivid that whatever is on my mind moves to my heart, and I find a new perspective.
There is a practical reason for their irresistible beauty. It’s all about seduction: to reproduce, they must attract the perfect suitors. Carson Ellis, curator of the National Native Azalea Collection of the North Carolina Arboretum, explains that the azalea is a “keystone pollinator,” which means their sensational floral displays in various colors draw an especially wide range of insects and other animals integral to our ecosystem.
After speaking with Ellis, I began to understand that nature not only has divine timing; its creatures also have divine dimensions. In fact, certain native azaleas rely primarily on the wings of giant butterflies to survive. Here’s why: most azalea flowers contain both an anther (male) and a stigma (female) that are elongated and placed far apart. The anther contains pollen, which must reach the stigma for reproduction. Ellis points to a groundbreaking study by North Carolina State University biologist Mary Jane Epps. Epps found that giant butterflies such as the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and the Great Spangled Fritillary use their wings, rather than their bodies, to connect with and shift pollen from the azalea’s anther to its stigma. Other smaller pollinators, such as bees and beetles, are inefficient. Epps found that their large wings could reach both reproductive organs of the flame azalea in a single visit. Without the “wing-borne pollen transfer,” there would be far fewer flame azaleas and possibly others.
You may spot these winged beauties at work right here in Annapolis. Luckily, we can visit over 700 azaleas and rhododendrons (yes, 700!) at historic London Town & Gardens, a hidden gem in Edgewater. New horticulture director Justin Schmitz notes they have a 10-acre garden devoted to native and exotic azaleas and other rhododendrons. April and May should be peak bloom time, says Schmitz, so stop in to view them on your own or take a members-only tour on May 10th.
When it comes to planting, the azalea prefers part shade, part sun, and well-drained, acidic soil. The root system is shallow, wide, and shaped much like a pancake, so transplanting is not advisable. And heavy pruning is not necessary. “They are not meant to look like sausages or meatballs,” says Ellis. She admires their expressive forms and resilience. Incredibly, they survived under ten feet of water during Hurricane Helena, she recalls. I have seen azaleas growing in masses in the woods, and it is a truly magical sight. Dark branches foreground vibrant hues and seem to gesture as if to help us on our way.
An ancient plant with Asian origins, the azalea is prominent in traditional Chinese and Japanese gardens as well as in their poetry and art. Asian azaleas were introduced to the United States as specimen plants in the 1830s but native azaleas had been here all along. There are differences between the two, explains Ellis. While Asian varieties are evergreen, natives are deciduous, which means they lose their leaves in the winter. Importantly, different native species bloom throughout the year rather than one month out of twelve. Although most people associate azaleas with spring, Swamp azalea, Cumberland azalea, and Sweet azalea bloom in mid and late summer and do well in Maryland’s climate.
But beauty has its dark side. The leaves, flowers, and nectar of all azaleas are highly poisonous to people and pets and can cause organ failure. The toxicity of the azalea is well known. In ancient times, a bouquet delivered in a black vase was considered a death threat. Though Ellis had not heard of this practice nor received any azaleas in black vases, she does know about “mad honey.” In Nepal, mad honey is made from the nectar of Rhododendron luteum and Rhododendron ponticum, nicknamed honeysuckle azalea. Though mad honey can be lethal, the Gurung people use this substance for both its hallucinogenic properties and medical benefits, including the treatment of sore throats and indigestion and to increase sexual performance.
It is hard to believe a plant so stunning can be so dangerous. Luckily, my small dog Daisy has no interest in them—perhaps because they don’t smell like steak. Soon, the azaleas will blossom and assert themselves in the landscape, feeding over 11 different animals and fulfilling the earth’s plan for them. When you have a moment, revel in their sensational yet brief brilliance. No matter how dark a situation may seem, come April, the azalea will dazzle, butterflies will feast, evening will come, and the morning after.
The genus Rhododendron derives its name from the Greek rhodo, which means rose, and dendron, meaning tree. Azaleas are part of the family Ericaceae, which includes heath, heather, cranberry, blueberry, and huckleberry.
• Smooth azalea, Rhododendron arborescens
• Swamp azalea, Rhododendron viscosum
• Pinxter azalea, Rhododendron periclymenoides
• Coast azalea, Rhododendron atlanticum
• Early azalea, Rhododendron prinophyllum
Azaleas bloom in the spring (April and May in the temperate Northern Hemisphere and October and November in the Southern Hemisphere), and their flowers often last several weeks. Shade tolerant, they prefer living near or under trees.
London Town & Gardens, historiclondontown.org
North Carolina National Native Azalea Collection, ncarboretum.org
Azalea Society of America, azalea.org
© Annapolis Home Magazine
Vol. 16, No. 2 2025