Pinxter Azalea

Description:

Pinxter azalea is an open, rather loose deciduous shrub which grows in an upright, many branched bush, 6-15 ft (1.8-4.6 m) tall and about as wide. It slowly forms clumps by sending up suckers from underground runners. Fragrant, very showy pink flowers appear at stem ends in early spring, about the time the leaves come out. The leaves are alternate, 1-3 in (1.5-7.6 cm) long, and have short hairs on the margins. The flowers are tubular, 2-3 in (5-7.6 cm) long, spreading out into five narrow petal lobes. The pistil and stamens extend in graceful curves beyond the corolla.

Habitat:

The most common wild azalea in the southeastern U.S. It grows along streams and swamp margins from North Carolina and Tennessee to central Florida, and west to East Texas.

Notes:

Spotted growing along the trail at the Allatoona Battlefield Pass. Add'l web ref: http://www.floridata.com/ref/r/r_canesc.... http://www.southeasternflora.com/view_fl...