Azaleas are flowering shrubs making up part of the genus rhododendron. There are two major differences between azaleas and other rhododendrons. Azaleas are smaller, making a good house plant, and they flower in singular large blooms, whereas rhododendrons produce long strips of smaller blooms.
Types of Azalea
- Evergreen azaleas (R. Tsutsusi) produce two sets of leaves every year dropping one set in the fall and the second in the spring, thus making them evergreen.
- Deciduous azaleas (R. pentanthera) as the name implies lose their leaves in the fall. It’s commonly used as a flowering shrub and provides bright pops of intense color in spring gardens. Sunny yellows, vivid oranges, and intense magentas are just a few of the bright colors available in addition to more genteel pastels.
Growing Conditions for Azalea
- Plant in an area of semi-shade – the dappled shade beneath open-branched trees is a favourite location.
- They need protection from midday sun and winter sun.
- They like a mildly acidic, organically enriched soil (pH 5-6), so avoid applying lime or fresh manures.
- Before planting, feed soil with compost and aged manure to improve moisture retention.
- Don’t plant azaleas in cement pots or near new brickwork as the lime from the pot or mortar can leach into the soil, making it alkaline.
- Azaleas are surface-rooting plants, so they don’t need very deep soil to thrive – about 30-40cm is adequate.
- It is important with new plants to tease the roots out gently before planting, to help them establish well in the garden.
- After positioning in the hole, backfill, mulch and water well with a seaweed solution.
- Azaleas are grown from seeds, cuttings or grafting.
- Planting and transplanting Azaleas is best done in the early spring or early fall.
- When transplanting, replant bushes at the same level in the ground was they were in their original location.
- Smaller bushes transplant best.
Pruning and Maintenance
- Azaleas can be pruned to remove unwanted growth and diseased or damaged growth, and to shape them after flowering.
- Prune immediately after the plant stop flowering in the spring. If you wait until summer you will remove most of next year’s flowers. Cut back to a branch or bud and don’t leave big stubs.
- Cleaning up after blooming is probably enough maintenance.
Fertilizing Azaleas
- Young plants need extra phosphorus to encourage good root development.
- Feed azaleas every spring, after their flowers have finished, with either a pelletised organic plant food, or a slow-release granular fertilizer.
- Follow this with a layer of organic mulch to reduce soil evaporation and so reduce their water requirements.
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