Native azaleas spring in Georgia. Photo by John Tracy / Flickr (use permitted with attribution).
Official State Wildflower of Georgia
Georgia designated azalea as the official state wild flower in 1979 (the state flower is the Cherokee rose). In 2013 the Act was amended to specify native azaleas (Rhododendron sp.), collectively, as Georgia's state wildflower symbol. All State Flowers
Blooming from March through August, native azaleas are dazzling wildflowers ranging in color from white to yellow, orange, scarlet, crimson, and intermediate shades and blotches. No specific variety of azalea was selected to represent Georgia, but several native varieties are mentioned in the resolution as occurring in every county of the state (including Rhododendron Austrinum, prunifolium, canescens, alabamense, calendulaceum, speciosum, arborescens, and serrulatum).
