Each spring visitors are drawn to the NC Arboretum’s National Native Azalea Collection to behold the singular beauty of azaleas in bloom. Visiting the National Native Azalea Collection, tucked into the forest alongside Bent Creek, is a unique opportunity to stroll through acres of mature azalea specimens, with 16 of North America’s 17 native azalea species growing alongside hundreds of cultivars and hybrids in a spectacle of color and fragrance.

April 29, 2023

In 2023, the Arboretum will host our first Native Azalea Day, an invitation to celebrate and experience azaleas through the eyes of plant enthusiasts, botanists, and artists. Look on as plein air artists capture the scene in paint and pen, or learn about the garden and its collection on a walking tour with the Native Azalea Collection Curator Carson Ellis
Guided walking tours will meet at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. on Bent Creek Road, at the entrance of the Azalea Collection. Participants should be prepared for a 30-minute walk over level pathways and are advised to dress for the weather and bring a water bottle.
Visitors can walk to the Azalea Collection from the Gatehouse Parking Lot using Old Mill Road to Bent Creek Road, or can park at the Baker Visitor Center and walk down Running Cedar Road to Bent Creek Road. Walkers should be prepared to travel one mile over unpaved roads and paths. A shuttle to the Collection will also be available, departing to and from the Baker Visitor Center throughout the event.
All activities are included with general admission fees.

Visit their website for more information!