Azaleas – Blooming

Q: I am curious as to why azaleas bloom so profusely and with such vibrant colors when there is no apparent resultant benefit of seed production?

A: Native plant expert Theresa Schrum says many of the cultivated azaleas that you purchase from nurseries are hybrids. As such, they produce few or no viable seeds. Native azaleas, on the other hand, do produce tiny seeds by the end of the summer.