Rhododendron austrinum 'Reagan'

'Reagan' is a richly colored selection of the Florida azalea, Rhododendron austrinum, chosen in the wild in Florida near the Apalachicola River, the great blackwater river whose ravines shelter some of the Southeast's rarest plants. Where the typical Florida azalea runs to clear gold and orange, this form pairs yellow petals with deep reddish-pink buds and flower tubes, so that from a distance the whole shrub takes on a warm, red-flushed glow uncommon in the species.

In early spring, before or just as the new leaves emerge, 'Reagan' opens clusters of tubular, funnel-shaped flowers up to an inch and a half across, each bloom carrying long, arching stamens and a sweet fragrance in the honeysuckle manner of the wild azaleas. The contrast of yellow face and reddish tube gives the flowers real depth of color. The species name austrinum means southern, marking the Gulf Coast home of the Florida azalea, while the genus name Rhododendron means rose tree in Greek.

The Florida azalea and its selections belong to the beloved group of Southern wild azaleas, long grown as bush honeysuckles for fragrance and early color rather than for any use in the kitchen. The usual caution holds: like all Rhododendron, the leaves and nectar of 'Reagan' contain grayanotoxins and are not to be eaten by people or pets. The flowers, on the other hand, are a feast for the first hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees of the season.

Reaching ten to twelve feet with an upright, open frame, 'Reagan' suits the middle or back of a woodland border, a shaded bed beneath high pines, or a naturalistic planting where the red-toned early bloom can carry across the garden. Give filtered light or morning sun with afternoon shade, and a light, sandy, acidic, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Shelter the shrub from late frost and drying wind, mulch the shallow roots, and combine with clear-yellow azaleas, ferns, and native phlox so the warm color reads against fresh spring green.