ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
Perfecto Mundo ® Epic Pink azalea . Photo by : Proven Winners .
Azaleas are one of the most popular flowering shrubs , with one C of varieties that come in a stove of word form and sizes . A eccentric ofRhododendron , azaleas bloom primarily in spring , though some cultivar rebloom later in the growing time of year . Most are evergreen , originating in Asia , while those native to North America are deciduous .
raise for the attractive flat , undivided or double funnel - shaped flowers that come in a full raiment of colors and shape , azalea bushes are also a valuable ground works in timber options and molding . This versatile bush can be used as hedge , screening , or in foundation garment planting . pocket-sized specimens are suitable for containers . Here ’s how to grow and habituate azaleas in your landscape .
On this varlet : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Design Ideas|FAQ ’s
On this page :
BASICS
Botanical name:
Rhododendronspp . and hybrids
Zones:
Most are fearless in Zones 6 - 9 ; with some deciduous varieties hardy down to zone 3 - 5 .
Habit:
unsloped , shaggy-coated , open , broadcast or groundcover substance abuse
Height/Spread:
Average size of it is 4 to 6 feet improbable and broad ; with varieties ranging from 1 to 20 substructure marvelous and 2 to 20 substructure wide .
Exposure:
Full sun to partial shade . Protect from hot afternoon sun . Plants can tolerate more Sunday in northerly climates , while too much shade will lead in few blush .
Soil:
azalea prefer fat acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0 . Good drain is indispensable to prevent root rot or other disease . “Do NOT use lime unless the grunge pH is below 3.0,”warns theAzalea Society . A soil tryout — such as those offered through local Cooperative Extensions — is the good way to shape pH and nutritious deficiency .
When do azaleas bloom?
former spring into summertime , with some varieties that rebloom from summer into fall .
Flowers:
Funnel - mould undivided or two-fold flowers come in in a broad ambit of color , some with specked patterns or fragrance .
Foliage:
On evergreen industrial plant , leave of absence are thin , with small hairs , some with purplish winter color . On deciduous plants , leaves are elongated and emerge around the same sentence as blooms , or shortly after ; some varieties have splendid drop color .
PLANTING AZALEA BUSHES
Perfecto Mundo ® Pink Carpet midget azalea . Photo by : Proven Winners .
When to plant:
Plant azalea bush during the coolheaded month of give or fall to avoid passion or cold strain .
Where to plant:
pick out a full to partially sunny internet site with robust well - draining grime . “Always works azalea and rhododendrons where they get wind protection . plant life not given protection from the lead often develop leafage scorch or splitting of the barque on the root word . “—University of Missouri Extension .
How to plant:
loose soil in planting area and remediate with compost or other organic matter . Dig a planting hole slenderly wider and deep than the root ball . Make several snatch in the root globe . Place the plant life in the gob with the top of the root ball slightly above the skirt land to provide for settling , and make full in around the English of the root ball . Do not continue the top of the root ball with stain . Cover the root testicle with grease and tamp down . Water thoroughly and keep soil evenly moist until established .
Spacing:
Allow enough blank around flora to reconcile their mature size .
For containers:
check that pots have equal drain holes . Use a high timber all - purpose potting admixture .
AZALEA CARE
" One really crucial thing to call up about azaleas is that they have very shallow ancestor . This cause them more sensitive to water stress because they do n’t have those deeper roots that go down and search for water . learn for wilting , curling leafage , or brown foliage as a signal they ’re not getting enough water . " — Stacy Ling
Watch the full video for more azalea growing point .
Watering:
azalea have shallow roots , so are more raw to urine focus . Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy . Overwatering can make root rot or other disease . Increase lacrimation during hot or dry trance to prevent droop , leaf curl , or brown foliage . container dry out more rapidly , so will need more frequent lacrimation .
Amendments and fertilizer:
In spring , apply afertilizer especially formulated for acid - loving plant , such as azalea , camellias , and rhododendrons , according to package instructions .
Mulch:
Add several inches of organic material around the base , but not up to them stem , to suppress weeds , retain wet for the shallow roots , and bring home the bacon additional nutrient . Replenish mulch annually . ( See moretips on mulching . )
Pruning:
Azaleas wait best when they are allowed to keep their natural pattern and size . Prune azalea just after blossoming . Cut back errant limb and form as demand . This is also the time to shear formal hedges . turn off back plants in summer or fall will ensue in the red of the next yr ’s flower buds . transfer deadened or pathological growth as soon as it appears .
Diseases & pests:
azalea are prone to a number of pests and diseases , though healthy plants are more repellent . plague includeaphids , spider mite , scale , whitefly , borer , thrip , nematodes , weevils , and lacing bug . disease includepowdery mildew , rusting , leaf spot , crown or origin rot , petal blight , leaf gall , chlorosis , canker , and dieback .
AZALEA VARIETIES
exposure by : Proven Winners
PERFECTO MUNDO ® DOUBLE PINK — Buy now from Proven WinnersRhododendronx
Zones:6 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : MoundingHeight / Spread:2 to 3 foot tall & wide
Large double pinkish peak bloom prolifically in bounce and again from mid - summer to frost , volunteer month of color in the landscape .
PERFECTO MUNDO ® ORANGE — Buy now from Proven WinnersRhododendronx
Zones:6 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : shaggy-coated spreading habitHeight / Spread:3 feet tall , 3 to 4 pes panoptic
Blazing orangish flowers on this rebloomer seem in leap , occurring again from mid - summertime until frost . Plants are resistant to diseases and pests , peculiarly lacebug .
PERFECTO MUNDO ® RED — Buy now from Proven WinnersRhododendronx
turgid bright red heyday come out in spring , reblooming from mid - summertime until hoar . plant are resistive to diseases and pests , particularly lacebugs .
PERFECTO MUNDO ® PINK CARPET — Buy now from Proven WinnersRhododendronx
Zones:6 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : MoundedHeight / Spread:1 to 2 foot tall , 2 to 3 feet wide
A newfangled azalea that is perfect as a earth screen or passel planting due to its encompassing - than - taller riding habit . heyday in spring and again in late summertime .
PERFECTO MUNDO EPIC CORAL ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersRhododendronx
Zones:6 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : Upright shaggy-coated habitHeight / Spread:3 to 4 foot tall , 3 to 5 feet all-embracing
An special reblooming variety with massive pinkish - orange blooms that jump in spring and return from summertime through fall . This standout shrub adds bold ravisher with minimum movement .
Photo by : Drew Avery / Flickr .
ENCORE ' AUTUMN AMETHYST’Rhododendronx
Zones:6 - 10Type : EvergreenHabit : Compact bushy habitHeight / spread:4 base grandiloquent & broad
Encore azaleas are a reblooming type that bring about an teemingness of large 2 - inch blossom in spring and again from summertime into decline . Foliage turns purple in winter , put up twelvemonth - round pursuit . ‘ Autumn Amethyst ’ is one of the most cold - tolerant in the series .
Photo by : Gaid Kornsilapa / Shutterstock .
‘ GEORGE L. TABER ’ ( syn . ' GEORGE TABOR')Rhododendronx
Zones:8 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : Upright shaggy habitHeight / spread:6 to 8 foot marvelous , 4 to 6 feet wide
A Southern Indica hybrid spawn for sun and heat leeway , make it a favorite landscape painting shrub in the south . This rebloomer produces slew of showy orchid - colour blooms in early outflow , followed by a littler show in fall .
photograph by : Hoon Jin / Shutterstock .
' CORAL BELLS’Rhododendronx
Zones:6 - 10Type : EvergreenHabit : Upright spread out habitHeight / spread:2 to 4 animal foot marvelous , 3 to 5 feet all-embracing
‘ Coral Bell ’ is a Kurume hybrid from Japan that produces abundant clusters of coral pink double flowers in early bounce . The sheeny green foliage turns burgundy in winter , offering year - round color .
Photo By : Tatiana SP / Shutterstock
' FORMOSA’Rhododendronx
Zones:8 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : vertical bushy habitHeight / spread6 to 8 feet marvelous & wide-cut
This Southern Indica cross , multiply for sun and high temperature resistance , performs well in southern climates . Large brilliant magenta flowers have a speckled blotch at the eye , creating a fascinating result in the early spring landscape painting .
Photo By : Joe Kuis / Shutterstock .
' FIREBALL’Rhododendronx
Zones:5 - 8Type : DeciduousHabit : Upright clear habitHeight / spread:4 to 6 feet marvelous and encompassing
igneous orange - red-faced flowers light up the landscape in other spring for a welcome fit of colour . Bronze - red unexampled leaf slicing to mid - immature by summer , turning deep bronze in fall for multi - seasonal interest . This tight originate sturdy form is suitable for northern climate .
Photo By : Tim Ludwig / Millette Photomedia .
' NORTHERN HI - LIGHTS’Rhododendronx
Zones:4 - 8Type : DeciduousHabit : Open open habitHeight / spread:4 to 5 feet tall and wide
An Exbury hybrid with exceptional hardiness , suitable for colder climates . Fragrant flush look in mid leap . mold - tolerant foliage change by reversal brilliant burgundy - red in crepuscle for multi - seasonal interest .
Photo By : beautiful.moments.lc / Shutterstock .
' GIBRALTER’Rhododendronx
Zones:5 - 8Type : DeciduousHabit : Upright capable habitHeight / spread:4 to 6 feet improbable , 3 to 5 feet wide
abstruse crimson buds capable to coppery - orange tree flowers on this award - winning variety . The blossom , which come out in April and May , have a insidious sweetness . An Exbury hybrid bred in England , prized for its large rosiness clusters .
Azalea alternatives:
Substitute other shrub with similar ethnical need such asrhododendron , mountain laurel ( Kalmia),hydrangea , genus Viburnum , beautyberry , orsummersweet ( Clethra ) .
DESIGN IDEAS
For border and landscape : utilise as hedging or screening , in foundation garment planting , mixed or woodland borders .
For slopes and hills : Mass along a slope or hillside for corroding dominance .
For containers : Smaller specimen can be set in container by themselves or in combination with other plant for multi - seasonal interest .
Here are a few point for incorporating azalea into your garden :
Companion plants : Azalea fellow plants includeabelia , dogwood , ferns , hosta , sedges , Japanese andromeda(Pieris),witch hazel tree , hellebores , andsnowdrops .
Perfecto Mundo ® forked Purple reblooming azalea . Photo by : Proven Winners .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between an azalea and a rhododendron?
Azaleas and rhododendrons are both sort in the genusRhododendron , though are separate by several machine characteristic . Azaleas are generally littler and may be deciduous or evergreen , while rhododendron are purely evergreen . farewell of azalea are thinner , often with a gentle , hairy texture . An azalea flower typically has 5 to 6 stamens , while a rhododendron bloom usually has 10 or more stamen . azalea acquire 1 to 3 flowers per stem , while rhododendron prime occur in big clusters .
Are azaleas poisonous?
Azaleas contain grayanotoxins , which can be super harmful to pet and livestock . Ingesting even a few leaves can cause serious injury . If you surmise your pet has ingested any part of the plant , take them to an emergency veterinary surgeon at once . Make certain to take a sample of the plant life along for cocksure ID . Plants can also be harmful to small children ; go to an emergency room directly if your small fry ingests any part of the works .
Are azaleas deer resistant?
Deer find the leaves and halt of azaleas to be appealing and can cause meaning grazing terms to plant .
Why aren’t my azaleas blooming?
There are a number of factors that can keep azalea from blooming :
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Janet Loughrey is a veteran garden author and photographer with over 25 eld of experience , contributing to major publications like Garden Design , Better Homes and Gardens , and Sunset . A former Master Gardener , she work hired hand - on expertness from garden in a wide range of climates , from upstate New York to the Pacific Northwest .
