Shrubs, to 0.5-1 m, very strongly rhizomatous. Stems: bark ± smooth, not shredding; twigs scattered, multicellular eglandular-hairy (hairs un-branched) and/or stipitate-glandular-hairy, otherwise gla-brous or, sometimes, sparsely unicellular-hairy. Leaves deciduous; petiole multicellular eglandular-and/or stipitate-glandular-hairy, sometimes also unicellular-hairy; blade ovate to obovate, 2-5.5(-6.5) × 0.8-2(-3) cm, thin, membranous to chartaceous, margins entire, plane, ciliate, eglandular-hairy, apex acute to obtuse, often mucronate, abaxial surface glabrous or, rarely, sparsely scattered eglandular-hairy, sometimes sparsely (rarely densely) unicellular-hairy, adaxial surface (lustrous to dull), glabrous or sparsely scattered stipitate-glandular-hairy, sometimes also sparsely unicellular-hairy. Floral bud scales glabrous or densely unicellular-hairy abaxially, margins usually unicellular-ciliate. Inflorescences 4-13-flowered; bracts similar to bud scales. Pedicels 4-15(-20) mm, eglandular-and/or stipitate-glandular-hairy, otherwise glabrous or sparsely (rarely moderately) unicellular-hairy. Flowers opening before or with leaves, erect to horizontal, usually very fragrant and/or nearly mephitic-scented; calyx lobes 0.7-5.5(-10) mm, marginal and scattered stipitate-glandular-or, less commonly, eglandular-hairy, sometimes also unicellular-hairy; corolla white, usually flushed pink or rose (especially on tube), without blotch on upper lobe, funnelform, 23-58 mm, scattered, usually conspicuous, multicellular stipitate-glandular-hairy (hairs forming prominent band along middle of each lobe), otherwise glabrous or, sometimes, sparsely unicellular-hairy on outer surface, petals connate, lobes 8-24 mm, tube rather gradually expanded into lobes, 16-35 mm (equaling or longer than lobes); stamens 5, much exserted, ± unequal, 32-63 mm. Capsules borne on erect pedicels, 10-24 × 4-8 mm, usually densely stipitate-glandular-hairy, otherwise glabrous or densely unicellular-hairy. Seeds without distinct tails, flattened portion of testa well developed at each end; testa expanded, dorsiventrally flattened, ± loose. 2n = 26.
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Vigorously colonial from stout rhizomes, sending up short-lived flowering branches mostly 3–5 dm; winter-buds glabrous; mature lvs narrowly obovate, 3–5 cm, glabrous or minutely stipitate-glandular, often glaucous beneath, but not setose; fls in long-stalked clusters, with or before the lvs; pedicels and cor-tube glandular; cal-lobes 1.5–3 mm; cor white or flushed with red, 4 cm wide. Sandy soil on the coastal plain; s. N.J. to Tex. Apr., May. (Azalea a.)
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