Admiral Semmes Native Azalea – Rhododendron – 1 Gallon Pot

Winner of the 2007 Georgia Gold Medal Award, ‘Admiral Semmes’ is one of the most heat and humidity tolerant of the highly sought after Confederate Series Native Azaleas, and in our experience is easiest to grow.

In addition to being a very sturdy and hardy shrub that can tolerate the extremes of the South, Admiral Semmes produces abundant clusters of extremely fragrant, yellow blooms. The clusters of large, honeysuckle-like blooms appear in spring as new growth begins to emerge. Very lustrous dark green leaves turn orange-bronze in fall. The handsome leaves are exceptionally mildew free. 

While some native azaleas grow into small trees, Admiral Semmes is more of a shrub form that grows to about 5 feet in height with an equal width. 

Admiral Raphael Semmes was skipper of the CSS Alabama and he still holds the record for number of enemy ships sunk or captured. Semmes Alabama is named for this Admiral.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Admiral Semmes Native Azalea is ideal for use as a specimen or in groupings in woodland borders or other areas of the landscape that provide dappled shade and moist but well-drained soils rich in organic matter. Its smaller size to 5 feet tall and wide makes Admiral Semmes Native Azalea a great choice for smaller garden spaces and containers. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, Azalea gardens, woodland gardens, native plant gardens, and cottage gardens. 

Suggested Spacing:  We do not suggest planting this beauty as a hedge. Space plants 10 feet or more for space between plants

Note:  For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a, where this native Azalea variety is not winter hardy, you can enjoy it in containers that can be moved indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Admiral Semmes Native Azalea is very easy to grow in moist but well-drained, humus rich soil and dappled shade or morning sun with afternoon shade. Once established it is quite drought tolerant, requiring supplemental water only during prolonged periods of dry summer weather. Native azaleas are very low-maintenance, requiring little if any pruning. That said, occasionally we might prune a stray branch that is growing way outside the natural form of the plant, but not so much that it would spoil the natural form of this beautiful shrub.