What is a Piedmont Azalea?

Question

Some are wild and native to Georgia, and I'd like to search and retreive some, but I'd like info on the best way to safely do this first.

Answer 1

Do not dig them from the wild. The chances are too great of failure, and then no one can enjoy them. Many nurseries in Georgia carry nursery-propagated ones that are sold in containers, and promise greater success. If you live in metro Atlanta try Buck Jones Nursery to see if they have any, or if they can get them. Plant all the native deciduous azaleas. They are some of the most glorious of the native plants of the piedmont south.

Answer 2

Rhododendron Canescens. Here is a web site with a picture. http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H156.htm
and information about it and how to transplant:
Piedmont Azalea Rhododendron canescens
There are 13 species of deciduous azaleas native to Georgia. Additionally, due to overlap of distribution and blooming season, we see many interspecific hybrids along with introgression. (Introgression occurs when a hybrid back breeds with one parent species only resulting in plants that generally look like one species but have some genes of the other). This can make species identification a challenge.

One of our most stunning natives is piedmont azalea (Rhododendron canescens). The earliest- blooming of the native azaleas (March and April), this deciduous shrub is well-known for its vivid display of pink or white, fragrant, clustered blooms. It is sometimes misnamed as wild honeysuckle, but our piedmont azalea has little in common with the west-coast native. You may also find this plant listed as the Florida pinxter azalea, and though typically considered a southern species, it is hardy enough to see wider landscape use. Commonly available from native plant nurseries, this showy plant is often rejected by other nurseries in the belief that gardeners will not purchase deciduous azaleas.

Rhododendron canescens makes a spectacular show in early spring. The leaves sprout but the blooms appear when the leaves are still a quarter of their mature size. A mature plant can be expected to grow to 10 feet (three metres) and more with an upright habit. Rich, moist acid soil in light shade but with some direct sun, or high filtered shade (under tall trees, at the forest edge and on stream banks) offers the ideal environment.

When attempting to rescue these plants, it is important to know that the root system is not deep, but includes many far-reaching lateral runners. Saving as many of these runners as possible is critical to success. Also, local experts recommend soaking the plants overnight in a tub of water to counteract shock, and reducing the foliage by one-third prior to transplanting. This can be done by clipping every third leaf in the cluster or by removing the tips of all leaves – a daunting process with larger plants.

Answer 3

if you please?.... it's nice to give credit to the website that you take your info from....

http://www.nanps.org/featuredplants.aspx?article=georgia_acid.html

especially when you copy it word for word.....

as for the Piedmont Azalea.... please check with your Cooperative Extension office about your wish to remove some from native areas.... there are a few that are terribly rare in natural places and it would be best if those were allowed to remain..... the office will help you identify those that can be moved and those that should be left alone.....

note that on the above website, it speaks of RESCUING the plants... as in places where they'd be killed otherwise, like logging or building areas... not transplanted just for the joy of having one!.... there are plenty of folks who are taking cuttings of these lovely plants and growing them on for sale.... you could get one of those much easier.....