Charles Andrews

native azalea expert, georgia

Charles Andrews has been studying North American azaleas in the field and the literature for over 50 years. He writes and speaks on azalea topics and is currently writing a book on the history and characteristics of this complex but underused group of plants. Charlie is a retired Georgia Tech engineer, whose life-long hobby of trout fishing introduced him years ago to native azaleas (often found along North Georgia’s trout streams). This is a subject about which he wants to learn everything possible. With notebook, jeweler’s loupe, and camera in hand, Charlie roams the woods in search of native azaleas in their natural habitat. He is fortunate to have had properties with many thousands of them, including amazing swarms of hybrids. His garden is filled with Ericaceae and other, mostly native, plants. Charlie is the immediate past president of the Azalea Society of America and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of The Azalean, the journal of the Azalea Society. He is an active member and past president of the Azalea Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.