In 1979, a number of azalea collectors and hybridizers interested in sharing and improving the knowledge of azaleas founded the Azalea Society of America
as a non-profit educational and scientific society. The Society goals are to:
promote knowledge of and interest in azaleas
provide a forum for the sharing of experiences and the dissemination of techniques of hybridizing, propagation and culture of azaleas
promote the proper description and registration of new azalea hybrids and selections
conduct studies and communicate with the members through publications and meetings
bring together all those whose interest in and appreciation of azaleas
form a bond of friendship.
The Society has national officers and committees for overall structure and direction, along with a number of chapters to provide meetings, lectures, seminars,
plant sales, auctions and exchanges, and fellowship at the local level. National membership includes membership in one of the local chapters, with At-Large
affiliation for those members not joining a local chapter. Guests are always welcome at the local chapter meetings.
The programs of the Society are designed to meet the needs of home gardeners, collectors and horticultural students, as well as nurserymen, hybridizers and
landscape architects. Our primary publication is a quarterly journal, The Azalean, which is the Society forum for
members and others to share their observations on azalea culture, garden design, hybridization, propagation, new azaleas, and chapter activities.
Each spring, one of our local chapters hosts an annual convention to immerse our members and friends in a long weekend
of azalea activities, including a short national business meeting. Each convention features tours of excellent local gardens during the day, renowned speakers
in the evening, and ongoing sales of azaleas and companion plants. Our Tri-State Chapter and Lake Michigan Chapter co-hosted our 2011 convention, Hoosier Hospitality in Evansville IN.
Our next convention, Appalachian Spring, will be a joint convention in Asheville NC, co-hosted by our Vaseyi Chapter and the Southeastern Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. It promises to be one of our biggest and best conventions ever!
The Society contact information is:
Azalea Society of America Carol Flowers, Secretary 202-965-5308
700 New Hampshire Ave NW Apt 1011
Washington DC 20037
For more information about a chapter, such as the geographical area it
serves, its meeting dates and locations, special events, officers, etc.,
click its name. If the chapter name is not a link, or if the chapter page does not answer your questions, click the name of its contact person to open an e-
mail addressed to them, ready for you to complete and send.
At Large (no chapter affiliation) John
Brown 864-836-6898
1000 Moody Bridge Road
Cleveland, SC 29635-9789
Alabamense Chapter Patrick Thompson 334-332-0283
827 Salmon Street
Auburn AL 36830
Ben Morrison Chapter Bob
McWhorter 410-923-6408
1666 Preakness Drive
Gambrills MD 21054
National officers and directors are elected for two year terms coincident
with the national convention. Much of the business of the Society is done by the Board of Directors, composed of the national officers, directors, and the
presidents of each chapter, and by a number of committees. The current national officers, chapter presidents and committee chairs are:
national archives at North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC national awards for service to the society and for best articles in The Azalean member history number of members by chapter for each year since 1990 bylaws society bylaws and chapter bylaws template
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