Azalea is from the Greek azaleos (dry) — the botanical name for the genus of flowering shrubs in the rhododendron family, famous for their spring blooms in pink, white, red, and purple. Native to Asia, Europe, and North America; cultivated in Western gardens since the 17th century; the Indica azalea (introduced 1808) is the floral emblem of São Paulo, Brazil. A top-1000 US baby name since 2012. Iggy Azalea (born Amethyst Amelia Kelly, 1990) — *Australian rapper; her 2014 single "Fancy" featuring Charli XCX reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks; she became the second rapper in history (after the Beatles) to have her first two singles chart in the top two of the Hot 100 simultaneously. First Australian solo female to top the Billboard Hot 100; The New Classic (2014) debuted #3 on the Billboard 200. Four Grammy nominations (2015) including Record of the Year for "Fancy". The Augusta Masters Tournament's 13th hole is named "Azalea" — among the most-photographed holes in golf because of the 1,600+ azalea plants surrounding it. Azalea Banks is Azealia Banks* (different spelling). Azalea Trail Maids — youth ambassador group in Mobile, Alabama since 1929 known for their pastel hoop-skirt costumes.
Featured throughout 21st-century pop music and Southern American culture.
Azalea reduces to five — the number of Iggy's first Billboard #1.