indian azalea

noun

Usage: usually capitalized I

Etymology: indian (II) 1

1.

a. : a somewhat bristly evergreen Japanese azalea (Rhododendron indicum) with paired or solitary bright red or rosy red flowers containing 5 stamens

b. : a hairy or bristly evergreen Chinese azalea (Rhododendron simsii) with large clustered rosy red to dark red flowers containing 10 stamens

2. : any of numerous usually tender cultivated azaleas that have single or double flowers in many colors and color combinations and that have been developed by selection from and hybridization of the Chinese Indian azalea and other evergreen azaleas