Taiwan, the Spring Isle of Azaleas

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on March 28, 2006. It features Taiwan's azaleas and rhododendrons, which have recently begun to bloom all over the island as the weather gets warmer.

There are about 900 varieties of azaleas in the world. Taiwan alone has 16 native types that occur at all altitudes from the plains to the high mountains. There are also the immigrant varieties, which were brought to Taiwan for landscaping purposes.

For example, Taiwan's numerous city parks, roadways and campuses are now the scenes for a wide range of imported rhododendron varieties, which are used in landscaping displays. Places such as Yangmingshan, Alishan, Aowanda, Wuling and Hehuan Mountain are mostly home to native rhododendron varieties. Several special varieties are particularly difficult to find, such as those that grow on red cypress trees or at higher elevations.

In general, the season for azaleas and rhododendrons in Taiwan is from February through April. It is easy to enjoy their beauty because one can see them almost everywhere.