The Flame Azalea is a deciduous shrub that is native to the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. It bears spectacular, bright orange clusters of flowers in the spring. The blooms are incredibly picturesque against the beautiful mountain backdrops where it grows in the wild. Flowers are usually bright orange but can vary from pastel orange to dark reddish-orange. It is a popular cultivated plant. There are several cultivars and it is a parent of a number of rhododendron hybrids. Hardy in zones 5-7.
Growing Instructions for the Flame Azalea
1. The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Use a sterile seed starter mix, if available. It prevents soil fungi from damaging the seeds and the seedlings. If not available, then make a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. It grows better in acidic soil. 2. Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil. The seeds need light to germinate. 3. Water the soil so that it is moist but not wet. Keep the soil moist. 4. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.