ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
Perfecto Mundo ® Epic Pink azalea . pic by : Proven Winners .
azalea are one of the most popular flowering bush , with hundreds of varieties that come in a range of material body and sizing . A type ofRhododendron , azaleas bloom primarily in spring , though some cultivars rebloom later in the growing season . Most are evergreen , uprise in Asia , while those native to North America are deciduous .
Grown for the attractive flat , single or double funnel shape - shaped flowers that make out in a wide of the mark raiment of colors and pattern , azalea bushes are also a worthful ground plant in woodland options and moulding . This versatile shrub can be used as hedge , screening , or in foundation garment plantings . little specimens are suited for containers . Here ’s how to acquire and habituate azaleas in your landscape .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Design Ideas|FAQ ’s
On this varlet :
BASICS
Botanical name:
Rhododendronspp . and hybrid
Zones:
Most are hardy in Zones 6 - 9 ; with some deciduous varieties hardy down to Zones 3 - 5 .
Habit:
Upright , bushy , receptive , pass around or groundcover habit
Height/Spread:
intermediate size is 4 to 6 foot marvellous and spacious ; with varieties browse from 1 to 20 feet tall and 2 to 20 foot wide-eyed .
Exposure:
Full sun to fond shade . Protect from hot afternoon Sunday . plant life can tolerate more sun in northerly mood , while too much specter will result in fewer blooms .
Soil:
azalea prefer plenteous acidic dirt with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0 . Good drainage is substantive to prevent antecedent rot or other diseases . “Do NOT use lime unless the land pH is below 3.0,”warns theAzalea Society . A soil test — such as those offered through local Cooperative Extensions — is the best way to determine pH and nutrient want .
When do azaleas bloom?
Early spring into summer , with some diversity that rebloom from summer into fall .
Flowers:
funnel shape - form individual or bivalent bloom come in a wide range of people of colour , some with speckled rule or fragrance .
Foliage:
On evergreen flora , leaves are thin , with small hairs , some with purplish wintertime color . On deciduous flora , leaves are elongate and come out around the same fourth dimension as blooms , or in short after ; some varieties have excellent declination coloration .
PLANTING AZALEA BUSHES
Perfecto Mundo ® Pink Carpet nanus azalea . pic by : Proven Winners .
When to plant:
found azalea shrubs during the nerveless months of saltation or precipitate to avoid heating system or cold stress .
Where to plant:
Choose a full to partially cheery site with rich well - debilitate land . “Always plant azaleas and rhododendrons where they get winding tribute . Plants not given protection from the wind often evolve leafage scorch or splitting of the barque on the shank . “—University of Missouri Extension .
How to plant:
Loosen soil in planting area and meliorate with compost or other organic matter . grasp a planting hole slightly wide and deeper than the root ball . Make several slits in the root ball . Place the plant in the trap with the top of the rootage ball slightly above the surrounding undercoat to allow for subsidence , and occupy in around the face of the ancestor bollock . Do not cover the top of the root globe with dirt . Cover the root nut with soil and tamp down . urine soundly and keep soil evenly moist until established .
Spacing:
Allow enough quad around plants to accommodate their mature sizing .
For containers:
check that sess have decent drainage maw . apply a high quality all - determination potting mix .
AZALEA CARE
" One really significant thing to remember about azaleas is that they have very shallow roots . This make them more sensible to water stress because they do n’t have those deep roots that go down and look for water . find out for wilting , curling leafage , or brown leaf as a signal they ’re not getting enough water system . " — Stacy Ling
take in the full picture for more azalea get summit .
Watering:
Azaleas have shallow origin , so are more sensible to water stress . Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy . Overwatering can induce etymon rot or other diseases . Increase tearing during live or wry spells to prevent wilting , leaf curl , or brown leaf . container dry out out more promptly , so will need more frequent watering .
Amendments and fertilizer:
In spring , apply afertilizer especially formulated for window pane - bonk flora , such as azalea , camelia , and rhododendron , according to package instructions .
Mulch:
tot up several inches of constitutional stuff around the base , but not up to them stem , to inhibit weeds , hold back moisture for the shallow rootage , and bring home the bacon additional nutrients . Replenish mulch annually . ( See moretips on mulching . )
Pruning:
Azaleas look best when they are allowed to keep their innate physical body and size . Prune azalea just after flowering . Cut back errant branches and form as take . This is also the time to shear formal hedge . Cutting back plants in summer or fall will leave in the personnel casualty of the next twelvemonth ’s peak bud . Remove dead or diseased growth as soon as it appear .
Diseases & pests:
azalea are prone to a phone number of pests and diseases , though healthy plants are more resistive . cuss includeaphids , wanderer mite , exfoliation , whitefly , borer , thripid , nematodes , weevils , and lace bug . disease includepowdery mould , rust , leaf spot , jacket or root rot , petal blight , leaf gall , chlorosis , canker , and dieback .
AZALEA VARIETIES
pic by : Proven winner
PERFECTO MUNDO ® DOUBLE PINK — bribe now from Proven WinnersRhododendronx
Zones:6 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : MoundingHeight / Spread:2 to 3 feet improbable & wide
big doubled pink heyday bloom prolifically in bounce and again from mid - summer to ice , offering month of color in the landscape painting .
PERFECTO MUNDO ® ORANGE — Buy now from Proven WinnersRhododendronx
Zones:6 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : Bushy spreading habitHeight / Spread:3 feet tall , 3 to 4 feet wide
Blazing orange flowers on this rebloomer appear in bounce , occurring again from mid - summer until frost . plant are immune to diseases and pests , particularly lacebug .
PERFECTO MUNDO ® RED — Buy now from Proven WinnersRhododendronx
with child bright red flower appear in leaping , reblooming from mid - summer until frost . Plants are resistant to disease and pests , particularly lacebugs .
PERFECTO MUNDO ® PINK CARPET — Buy now from Proven WinnersRhododendronx
Zones:6 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : MoundedHeight / Spread:1 to 2 feet marvellous , 2 to 3 feet full
A young azalea that is perfect as a primer coat cover or mass planting due to its wider - than - taller habit . Flowers in spring and again in belated summer .
PERFECTO MUNDO EPIC CORAL ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersRhododendronx
Zones:6 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : Upright bushy habitHeight / Spread:3 to 4 feet improbable , 3 to 5 feet all-encompassing
An exceptional reblooming diverseness with massive pink - orange salad days that start in spring and return from summertime through drop . This standout shrub adds sheer beauty with minimum effort .
exposure by : Drew Avery / Flickr .
ENCORE ' AUTUMN AMETHYST’Rhododendronx
Zones:6 - 10Type : EvergreenHabit : Compact bushy habitHeight / spread:4 feet magniloquent & broad
Encore azaleas are a reblooming character that develop an copiousness of declamatory 2 - inch flowers in spring and again from summer into fall . foliation call on purple in winter , allow for year - round interest . ‘ 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 : vertical bushy habitHeight / spread:6 to 8 foot grandiloquent , 4 to 6 feet wide
A Southern Indica loanblend bred for sun and heat tolerance , making it a pet landscape shrub in the south . This rebloomer bring on masses of showy orchidaceous plant - colored blooms in former bounce , followed by a minor showing in fall .
photograph by : Hoon Jin / Shutterstock .
' CORAL BELLS’Rhododendronx
Zones:6 - 10Type : EvergreenHabit : upright piano spread habitHeight / spread:2 to 4 feet tall , 3 to 5 feet wide
‘ Coral Alexander Melville Bell ’ is a Kurume hybrid from Japan that bring on abundant cluster of coral pink double flowers in early spring . The glossy green leafage turn Burgundy wine in wintertime , offering yr - round color .
Photo By : Tatiana SP / Shutterstock
' FORMOSA’Rhododendronx
Zones:8 - 9Type : EvergreenHabit : upright piano bushy habitHeight / spread6 to 8 foot tall & wide
This Southern Indica hybrid , bred for sun and passion resistance , do well in southerly climates . Large bright magenta flowers have a speckled blotch at the center , make a riveting outcome in the other bounce landscape painting .
Photo By : Joe Kuis / Shutterstock .
' FIREBALL’Rhododendronx
Zones:5 - 8Type : DeciduousHabit : Upright undecided habitHeight / spread:4 to 6 feet tall and wide
Fiery orange - red blossom illumine up the landscape painting in other springtime for a welcome fit of color . Bronze - red new foliage slicing to mid - unripened by summer , turn deep bronze in fall for multi - seasonal pursuit . This fast growing sturdy diverseness is suitable for northern climates .
Photo By : Tim Ludwig / Millette Photomedia .
' NORTHERN HI - LIGHTS’Rhododendronx
Zones:4 - 8Type : DeciduousHabit : Open loose habitHeight / spread:4 to 5 feet tall and wide
An Exbury hybrid with exceptional hardiness , suitable for colder climate . Fragrant blossom appear in mid springiness . Mildew - tolerant foliage turns brilliant burgundy - red in fall for multi - seasonal interest .
Photo By : beautiful.moments.lc / Shutterstock .
' GIBRALTER’Rhododendronx
Zones:5 - 8Type : DeciduousHabit : vertical open habitHeight / spread:4 to 6 feet improbable , 3 to 5 foot wide
bass crimson buds open to coppery - orange heyday on this award - winning variety . The blooms , which come out in April and May , have a elusive fragrance . An Exbury hybrid bred in England , treasure for its orotund prime bunch .
Azalea alternatives:
Substitute other shrubs with similar cultural motivation such asrhododendron , mountain laurel ( Kalmia),hydrangea , viburnum , beautyberry , orsummersweet ( Clethra ) .
DESIGN IDEAS
For borders and landscapes : apply as hedge or screening , in foundation plantings , mixed or woodland borders .
For slope and hills : Mass along a slope or hillside for eroding control .
For containers : Smaller specimen can be plant in containers by themselves or in combining with other plants for multi - seasonal interest .
Here are a few tips for incorporating azaleas into your garden :
Companion plants : Azalea fellow traveler works includeabelia , cornel , fern , hosta , sedges , Japanese andromeda(Pieris),witch hazel , hellebore , andsnowdrops .
Perfecto Mundo ® threefold Purple reblooming azalea . photograph by : Proven Winners .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between an azalea and a rhododendron?
azalea and rhododendron are both assort in the genusRhododendron , though are differentiated by several characteristics . azalea are by and large smaller and may be deciduous or evergreen , while rhododendrons are stringently evergreen . leaf of azaleas are thinner , often with a soft , haired grain . An azalea flush typically has 5 to 6 stamen , while a rhododendron bloom usually has 10 or more stamens . Azaleas bring forth 1 to 3 flowers per shank , while rhododendron blooms occur in larger clusters .
Are azaleas poisonous?
Azaleas incorporate grayanotoxins , which can be extremely harmful to pets and stock . Ingesting even a few leaves can have serious injury . If you distrust your pet has ingested any part of the works , take them to an emergency veterinarian immediately . check that to take a sampling of the plant along for confident ID . plant can also be harmful to small baby ; go to an erbium like a shot if your fry ingest any part of the plant life .
Are azaleas deer resistant?
Deer find oneself the folio and stem of azaleas to be appealing and can cause significant grazing damage to industrial plant .
Why aren’t my azaleas blooming?
There are a number of gene that can keep azaleas from blooming :
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Janet Loughrey is a veteran garden writer and photographer with over 25 years of experience , bestow to major publications like Garden Design , Better Homes and Gardens , and Sunset . A former Master Gardener , she brings bridge player - on expertness from gardening in a wide range of climates , from upstate New York to the Pacific Northwest .
