The garden was originally established to provide a beautiful backdrop for the WRAL-TV broadcast studios.
It contains over 60 varieties of azaleas, including both Kurume and Indica hybrids.
The property is situated on a former dairy farm site that was repurposed by Capitol Broadcasting Company.
The garden layout was originally designed to provide a natural sound buffer for the adjacent television production facility.
It is a registered garden with the American Hemerocallis Society for its collection of daylilies.
The WRAL Azalea Garden is a five-acre horticultural site located on the grounds of the WRAL-TV studios in Raleigh. Established in 1959 by A.J. Fletcher, the founder of Capitol Broadcasting Company, the garden showcases a massive collection of azaleas, dogwoods, and ferns. The space serves as a broadcast landmark and is open to the public as a managed botanical landscape. It features a network of shaded walking paths that weave through varying elevations and densely planted flower beds. The garden is maintained as a living tribute to the region's native and ornamental flora, with a particular emphasis on spring-blooming varieties. It functions as a managed garden environment adjacent to an active media facility.
The central arched wooden bridge surrounded by a dense cluster of blooming azaleas.
Visit during peak bloom in mid-April to see the azaleas at their most vibrant stage.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the paths include mulch and slight inclines.
Bring a camera, as the garden is frequently used by professional photographers for portrait sessions.
Do not wander into the private parking areas or the secured perimeter of the active television station buildings.
Stay on marked paths to protect the delicate root systems of the plants; do not pick flowers.
