azalea

American  

[uh-zeyl-yuh] / əˈzeɪl jə /

noun

• azaleas
  plural

1. any of numerous shrubs belonging to a particular group (Azalea) of the genus Rhododendron, of the heath family, comprising species with handsome flower clusters of various colors, some of which are familiar in cultivation: the group was formerly the botanical genus Azalea but is now a horticultural classification.

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azalea British  

/ əˈzeɪljə /

noun

1. any ericaceous plant of the group Azalea, formerly a separate genus but now included in the genus Rhododendron: cultivated for their showy pink or purple flowers

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• azaleas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of azalea

1750–60; < New Latin < Greek azaléa, noun use of feminine of azaléos dry; so named because it grows in dry soil

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

azalea azaleas

Still, Pyongyang has touted Jindallae -- "azalea" in Korean -- as a convenient way for citizens to stay connected, albeit through a strictly controlled domestic network.

From Barron's ● May 5, 2026

Raymond Yoshimura would go on to hybridize several plants, including the Mission Bell azalea that became a popular draw for the nursery, Swanton said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2023

Years ago, whenever an evergreen azalea was transplanted out of a protected nursery area into the garden-to-be, the animals would have at it.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 23, 2022

“I like all flowers except for white ones,” she pronounces while standing next to a neon magenta azalea.

From New York Times ● Jul. 20, 2021

I moved through cam- phorweed and wild azalea, stepping over fire-ant mounds and swinging the smoker while he lifted the lids off the hives and peered inside looking for capped frames.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

He believes he will get it done among the azaleas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026

Roman Ivannikov has spent around 30 years pampering orchids, azaleas and figs at Ukraine's National Botanical Garden, but power cuts triggered by Russian strikes are threatening to freeze his cherished collection of tropical plants.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

Miraculously, the fire barely touched the area of the nursery where thousands of potted camellias and azaleas were ready for sale under a breezy wood-lathe framework covered by shade cloth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 2025

Although these muffins hit the spot anytime, I especially have a taste for them right now with the azaleas in full bloom and nature is all abuzz.

From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2024

Although the style of each varied in crudity, the subjects of the paintings were relatively similar: camellias floating in bowls of water, azaleas tortured into ambitious flower arrangements, magnolias that looked like white windmills.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole