On April 25, the University of Rzeszów celebrated the official opening of its new azalea greenhouse at the Zalesie Campus.

The project was carried out in cooperation with the City and Municipality of Nowa Sarzyna as part of a joint initiative with the University of Rzeszów.

The greenhouse is dedicated to Rhododendron luteum, commonly known as the Pontic azalea or yellow azalea—an exceptional shrub from the heath family. In Poland, this species occurs naturally in only one location: the "Kołacznia" Nature Reserve in Wola Zarczycka, near Leżajsk in the Subcarpathian region. Due to its rarity and limited distribution, the Pontic azalea is a legally protected species and was included in the Polish Red Book of Plants until 2001.

“I am truly delighted with this partnership and the successful completion of this project. It is something we, as residents of the Subcarpathian region, can genuinely be proud of. Not everyone knows that in Nowa Sarzyna, within our voivodeship, lies Poland’s smallest nature reserve—Kołacznia—home to the unique Pontic azalea,”
said Prof. Adam Reich, Rector of the University of Rzeszów.

The Azalea Project includes infrastructure improvements at the Kołacznia Nature Reserve, where new fencing and a viewing terrace will be built. Additionally, azalea greenhouses are being established as part of the initiative. The first has now been completed on the grounds of the University of Rzeszów, with another planned at the Primary School in Wola Zarczycka, where seedlings will be cultivated. After two years, the young plants will be transferred to a greenhouse located at the First General Secondary School.

The University’s greenhouse, covering 18 square meters, currently houses around 50 three-year-old Pontic azalea seedlings.

“In the next stage, these seedlings will be used to create demonstration gardens featuring the Pontic azalea,”
explained Dr Agata Gajdek.

The newly established greenhouse will serve as a space for knowledge exchange and inspiration, fostering further initiatives beneficial to both the academic community and the wider socio-economic environment.

Photo: Michał Święcicki