Azaleas are loved mainly because of their beautiful flowers. However, it is worth knowing that the flowers of many species and varieties of azaleas also emit interesting fragrances.Fragrant azaleasare becoming more and more popular, and the choice of such plants is quite large. Seewhich azaleas smell the mostand learn about their fragrance notes. Here are the most interestingvarieties of fragrant azaleasthat you can plant in your garden!
Pontic azalea with an exceptionally strong flower fragrance. Photo © Dawid
Fragrant azaleas - species
The most intense smells are the basic wild azaleasfrom which hybrids grown in gardens and parks were bred. They are not often found in cultivation, but in some nurseries you can find such specimens.
The most fragrant azalea species is Pontic azalea(Rhododendron luteum). It is a sprawling, dense shrub, up to 2.5 m in height. This species can be found wild in Poland in the Sandomierz Forest. It is under total protection. Pontic azalea in late April and early May blooms with intense yellow, fragrant flowers.The scent of Pontic azalea flowers is felt from a very long distance(over 200 m). It can cause discomfort and headaches in sensitive people.
Note!Nectar from the flowers of Pontic azalea and its varieties is highly poisonous. Honey produced in an apiary located near the blooming Pontic azalea will not be suitable for consumption.
Otherazaleas with a very strong floral scent , but not intoxicating any more, are: tree azalea (R. arborescens), florida azalea (R. austrinum), pink azalea (R prinophyllum), western azalea (R. occidentale) and azalea (R. viscosum).The smell of their flowers can be felt from a distance of several dozen meters
These are species that occur naturally in North America. Among this group of speciesthe most intense smell is the sticky azalea and its numerous hybrid varieties.Its flowers give off a pleasant citrus-clove scent. The second best-smelling azalea is tree azalea with a sweet, spicy-vanilla scent.
The next group isazalea species with a medium-strong smell, noticeable from a few metersThis group includes: Alabama azalea (R. alabamense), Eastman's azalea (R. eastmanii), coastal azalea (R. atlanticum), gray azalea (R. canescens) and Schlippenbach azalea (R.schlippenbachii).From this group in Poland you can only find the azalea Schlippenbacha , a shrub from the Far East. She is the national flower of Korea. Schlippenbach's azalea blooms profusely in late April and early May with pink, sweet-smelling flowers growing at the tips of leafless annuals. It often repeats flowering at the end of summer.
Tree azalea gives off a strong smell
Fig. Mason Brock, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
The last group isazaleas whose flowers smell delicatelyThis group includes azalea honeysuckle (R. periclymenoides), azalia mollis (R. molle), also known as Chinese or mossy, subspecies of azalea mollis - Japanese azalea (R. molle subsp. japonicum) and Korean azalea (R. yedoense var.poukhanense), which is an intermediate species between rhododendrons and azaleas, butdue to its fragrant flowers, belongs to the azalea group The scent of flowers of these species is noticeable mainly in sunny and windy weather. To feel the fragrance, you need to smell the flowers up close.A list of azalea species with flowering dates is included in the table. Below the table there is a link to download this statement in a printable version: -)
Fragrant azaleas - garden varieties
From the basic species of azaleas, through cross-breeding, it was possible to grow numerous hybrid varieties, perfect for planting in gardens. They have been divided into several main groups.
Among them, we can distinguishgroups of azaleas characterized by fragrant flowersThese are mainly varieties from the Viscosa and Occidentale groups and a few varieties from the Mollis and Knap Hill groups.The flowers of the Viscosa group of azaleas have the strongest fragrance, derived from the sticky azalea. Examples of azalea varieties belonging to the Viscosa group are: 'Fragrant Memories', 'Weston's Lollipop' (sometimes simply referred to as 'Lollipop'), 'Arpege', 'Antilope' and 'Karminduft'.The flowers of Occidentale azaleas also give off a strong fragranceThe most famous variety of azaleas in this group is 'Irene Koster' with a delightful, honey-like scent.
Large-flowered azalea 'Soir de Paris'. Its flowers give off a pleasant, sweet fragrance. Photo © Kasia
The flowers of azalea varieties from the Mollis and Knap Hill groups , except for a few exceptions, do not smell very strongly. Their fragrance is very delicate and subtle. To feel it fully, you need to smell the flowers up close.
Good to know!
The intensity of the scent of azalea flowers is greatly influenced by weather conditions. Azalea flowers smell most strongly on sunny and warm days. In cloudy and rainy weather, their smell is barely perceptible. It must be remembered that the intensity of a fragrance is also a subjective feature.
An overview of azalea varieties with fragrant flowers and flowering dates is provided in the table. Below the table there is a link to download this statement in a printable version: -)
Download this statement as a printable version:
- Fragrant azaleas - garden species and varieties (PGF)
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
