 Hello, I'm Kerri Smith, horticulturist with Alabama Extension at Auburn University. Azaleas, they're an iconic member of southeastern landscapes, and with more than 50 species and thousands of hybrids, it's no surprise. Today we'll talk about this diverse plant group. Here's a planting of Encore Azaleas. This hybrid group was developed by Nursery in South Alabama. These are unique because they bloom in spring, summer, and fall. Their lineage is from Taiwan. In North America, we have several native azaleas. There's even one name for Alabama. Most of our natives have highly fragrant flowers, while the Asian plants have little to no flower fragrance. All native azaleas are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves in the fall. Japan and other parts of Asia have been hybridizing their azaleas for centuries. All of these are green year-round. Their flower colors range from white to purple, pink, and red. If you're looking for shades of yellow, though, only the North American natives offer this flower color. Different azaleas species and hybrids bloom at different times of the year. Choosing and planting a wide variety of azaleas, you can enjoy the flowers in your landscape from February through September. As with any plant, right plant, right place reduces pest problems and improves long-term plant health. All azaleas are happiest with morning sunlight and some afternoon shade. If you want a landscape for birds and bees, azalea nectar, especially from our natives, is food for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Azaleas come in many sizes and flower colors. Whichever one you choose, they'll make your landscape beautiful.