The Azaleas of Hurricane Creek

Please join the Arboretum for this great opportunity to learn about an amazing population of native azaleas in North Georgia.  In the event of heavy rain or extreme cold, we will see the photo-rich presentation in the Rouse Life Sciences Building Room 112.

Hurricane Creek flows through a woodland in Lumpkin County, Georgia, that is beautiful, spectacular, and amazing. Yes, it has thousands of Piedmont azaleas (Rhododendron canescens), flame azaleas (R. calendulaceum), and sweet azaleas (R. arborescens). But here you do not see just some typical orange, pink, and white azaleas. The unusual aspect is the natural hybridization that has taken place, not just perhaps in recent history but over many, many years (centuries?). We may not be seeing first-generation hybrids, but results of introgression over many cycles. Think of large-flowered, pink, flame azaleas with a gold blotch. Think of pastels. Think of yellow, pink, and gold blossoms on the same truss. Think of many other multi-colored plants. Think of our common pink wild honeysuckle, but with 2-inch corollas. Think of a yellow flame azalea with a fragrance. Think of 7- and 8-inch trunks. Does this pique your imagination? Now come and see the presentation and learn what nature can do to confound the botanists. Efforts are underway to get some of these into propagation.

Charles Andrews is a retired Georgia Tech engineer who worked as a project manager and complex systems design analyst. With notebook, jeweler’s loupe, and GPS camera in hand, Charles has roamed the woods in search of native azaleas for 35 years. He is fortunate to own the Hurricane Creek property in North Georgia. He is president of the Azalea Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society, a member of the Vaseyi Chapter, and an associate member of the Alabamense Chapter ASA. He writes and speaks on azalea topics and is writing several books on the subject of native azaleas.

Joe Coleman is a retired dentist who has grown rhododendrons and azaleas for many years. He is an expert propagator, having now advanced to using tissue culture in his basement lab. He is often found out in the field with other Georgia azalea hunters, taking pictures, collecting cuttings or seeds. He is a founding member and former director of the Azalea Society of America, a member of the Georgia Native Plant Society, and a member and former director of the American Rhododendron Society.

Joe and Charlie have spent many hours along with others of their azalea hunters group studying the azaleas of Hurricane Creek.