Breedlove Azaleas
The amazing native azaleas from the Breedlove Farm brighten the landscape every spring. On the old 100-acre farm, there were R. canescens and R. flammeum present, and it was assumed for a long time the hybrid-looking plants were crosses of these two diploid species. That is, until the plants were tested for ploidy. A surprisingly large number turned out to be triploids, and triploids usually occur when diploids accept tetraploid pollen. Out of almost 100 plants moved to the Andrews' residence, however, only one tested tetraploid (BL 005). This plant looks like a flat-faced R.calendulaceum, but it is a pink and melon color (see picture below). Many of the other flat-faced, large-flower Breedlove plants are triploids. The Breedlove azaleas are one example of a natural hybrid swarm.
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