The History of Azaleas

Evergreen azaleas are native to Japan and other parts of Asia, while deciduous varieties are native to parts of Europe and United States. As early as 1600, nobles in Japan were breeding varieties of azaleas to represent their families. In 1692, Ito Ihei, a nurseryman for feudal lords, wrote the first book on the flowers. Azaleas became popular among Europeans in the 17th and 18th centuries and were then brought to the United States, where they were first planted in the massive gardens of plantations maintained by slave labor. After the Civil War, azaleas became popular in everyday gardens as well as botanical collections. As time when on, they became increasingly popular in the United States and ongoing breeding work has resulted in many new cultivars. Today, gardeners have a wide selection of azalea varieties to choose from, and because these plants are very adaptable to different conditions and offer colorful blooms, they are very popular all around the world.