blooming in the Appalachian mountains until June. Flower color ranges from yellow to red, but orange is the most common color seen in the mountain forests surrounding Ferrum.
This wildflower is a native of the Appalachians and is highly cultivated as an ornamental.  The name Azalea is from Greek, meaning dry, and that reflects its preferred habitat  - dry open woods and mountain balds.  Many people do not realize that  azaleas are actually Rhododendrons but unlike typical rhododendrons, the native azaleas are deciduous, dropping their leaves before winter.
When colonists first arrived in America, they spoke of seeing entire hillsides ablaze in color when the azaleas were in bloom. Over-development and environmental stresses have hurt the wild azalea population.   Remember; never dig up native wildflowers to ensure that they remain in our forests for all to enjoy.