Azaleas may be found on several specified trails and within Southern professional gardens.
Spring comes first to the Deep South, allowing us to thumb our noses at the rest of the country buried in snow. It’s payback for those hot, sticky months when the north baths in summer’s balmy best. The flowers here bloom in spurts, first the Japanese magnolias, then azaleas in brilliant colors of fuschia, pink and white with bridal wreaths and daffodils and, in some places above the subtropical lines, dogwoods and other colorful shrubs and trees.
It’s the azaleas, however, that turn ordinary people into bubbling gardening idiots. These bushes of brilliance rob our senses, turning us into mindless statues staring endlessly into their cascade of colors. Which is why there are azalea trails everywhere.
Nacogdoches, Texas
Designated the Garden Capital of Texas, Nacogdoches, Texas, offers 25 miles of self-guided driving routes through its Azalea Trail that meander through town and the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, the largest in the state with more than 7,000 azaleas along the historic Lanana Creek on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University. The routes are divided into three trails named for the azaleas they feature, including Southern Indica Trail, Evergreen Azalea Trail and The Fashion Azalea Trail. Each trail begins at the Charles Bright Visitor Center located at 200 E. Main St. Trail maps are available at the Visitor Center or from the Azalea Trail website.
Nacogdoches’ azalea season typically lasts from mid-March to mid-April but as of this week (March 14, 2025), azalea buds are starting to appear. The website states it may be the end of March for blooms.
Tyler, Texas
Not to be outdone, Tyler, Texas, has its own trail with flowers and festivities. The 66th annual Azalea and Spring Flower Trail March 21–April 6 stretches 10-plus miles and attracts thousands of visitors to Tyler each year. Visitors are encouraged to stroll through picturesque gardens, join in on one of the many community events, and bask in the beauty that is Tyler in the spring.
“This is the time of year where Tyler comes alive with colors,” said Susan Travis, Visit Tyler Vice President of Sales. “Everyone loves getting out in the spring in Tyler.”
Along with the azaleas and spring flowers, the Trails will include a variety of activities including art shows, quilt shows, historic home tours, Artisan & Flower Markets and more.
During the three weekends of the trail, Rose City Ambassadors will be available in the high-traffic areas to greet visitors and answer questions. The ambassador program is a volunteer program aimed at giving high school students the opportunity to earn community volunteer hours, which can be counted on their college applications, or for high school requirements. For more information and a full list of events, go to VisitTyler.com/Events.
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette in the heart of Cajun Country offers azalea trails with self-guided maps to assist visitors. These may be downloaded from the tourism websites and picked up at welcome centers.
Throughout approximately 20 miles, Lafayette’s city streets are lined with azaleas that adorn beautiful homes and historical sites. Some of the bushes of gigantic proportions are more than 50 years old. The predominant variety in Lafayette is the Formosa azalea, christened the “General Lafayette, LA,” which blooms in colors of lavender and fuchsia.
Click here for the azalea bloom watch.
Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana
The Wild Azalea Trail in the Kisatchie National Forest’s Evangeline Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District, west and southwest of Alexandria, provides a glimpse into the state’s only native variety. Trail maps may be picked up at tourist welcome centers and the Wild Azalea Trail end points at the Kistachie National Forest’s Valentine Lake Recreation Area and Woodworth Town Hall.
Bellingrath Gardens, Alabama
You won’t want to miss Bellingrath Gardens annual display of azalea color. The 65-acre gardens located outside of Mobile contains more than 250,000 azaleas and their website posts blooming times in their “Azalea Watch” section. Visiting in March provides glimpses into lots of other blooming flowers as well.
Callaway Resort & Gardens, Georgia
There’s 2,500 acres of gardens and the Mountain Creek Lake at Callaway and all are filled with spring color. Spring starts with 150,000 vibrant tulips and 20,000 beautiful azalea blooms!
Gibbs Gardens, Ball Ground, Georgia
Gibbs is known for opening at the onset of spring and the flowering of its 20 million-plus daffodils on more than 50 acres, truly a sight to see. As the daffodil explosion ceases, the gardens' azaleas take their place in early April. Gibbs has a large collection of native azaleas, one of the main reasons they purchased the property, but also 1200 Encore azaleas for a total of more than 3,000 azaleas.
Garvan Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs, Arkansas
The tulips and daffodils are in bloom now at Garvan, but the azaleas will arrive soon on the 210-acre botanical garden of the University of Arkansas that's located on the shores of Lake Hamilton. For information on the gardens, read my story from February. To check bloom times, visit Garvan's Facebook page.
And that’s just a few!
Weird, Wacky & Wild South is written by travel journalist Cheré Dastugue Coen, who lives for Southern spring.
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