Rhododendron x 'Admiral Frank Buchanan'

A selection in the Confederate Azalea Series from Todd Dodd, 'Admiral Frank Buchanan' features stunning, large clusters of red buds that open to fragrant, extremely ruffled, deep-orange flowers that are absolutely radiant in the garden. The deciduous Rhododendrons in the Confederate Series were bred for superior heat and humidity tolerance but will also handle temps down to -20 degrees F. An intermediate grower to 6 feet or so tall and wide.

Named for the skipper of the CSS Virginia (Merrimac) and later Admiral in charge of Mobile Bay. Franklin Buchanan was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 13, 1800. He was the fifth child and third son of a physician, George Buchanan and Laetitia McKean Buchanan. The Buchanan side of his family arrived in the United States from Scotland. His paternal grandfather was a general with the Maryland Militia during the Revolutionary War while his maternal grandfather Thomas McKean was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. During the 45 years he served in the U.S. Navy, Buchanan had extensive and worldwide sea duty. 

Growing to 6 feet tall and equally as wide, the Admiral Frank Buchanan 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. Is also suitable for growing in large pots, planters and other containers. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, red theme 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 6a, 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.

The Admiral Frank Buchanan Azalea is 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.