Azaleas are the one group of plants Southerners never tire of learning about.
Get the details on how to choose, plant, and care for these popular shrubs.
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Rhododendrons and azaleas are arguably the Southern gardener’s favorite shrubs.
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While rhododendrons generally do better in the Upper and Middle South, azaleas are more accommodating.
Azalea species can be evergreen or deciduous.
As beautiful as they are, azaleas are toxic to both humans and animals.
Hose the pollen off your porch and break out those flip-flops because it’s warming up fast.Credit: Justin Hancock / Meredith Corp.
They contain a toxin called grayanotoxin and arbutin glucoside.
With proper care, azaleas can live for decadesor even longer.
The Azalea Society of America notes that there are azaleas in Japan that have thrived for centuries!
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Plant azaleas with the top of the root ball slightly above soil level.
Don’t cultivate around these plants, as they have shallow roots.
Light
The sun tolerance of azaleas varies by species and selection.
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Most types generallyprefer the partial sun orfiltered shadebeneath tall trees.
The east and north sides of a house are generally good locations.
Avoid varieties that love the sun if you live in a climate susceptible to cold winters with heavy snowfall.
Credit: Rush Jagoe
Choosing a suitable plant variety helps azaleas to flourish year after year.
Planting in alkaline soil can result in yellow leaves with green veins from a lack of iron.
Irrigating with alkaline water will slowly raise the pH level.
Flame Azalea at the Botanical Garden.Credit:Courtesy of Gainesville Convention and Visitors Bureau
Avoid drip irrigationit doesn’t wet the root system uniformly.
If it reaches temperatures of 95oF or higher, lightly mist the plant’s leaves.
Generally speaking, azaleas like temps between 30oF and 85oF.
Fertilizer
Azaleas growing in acid, nutrient-rich soil don’t need much fertilizer.
Apply right after plants finish blooming in spring and again in midsummer at the rate specified on the label.
Also, don’t fertilize before bloomyou’ll encourage leafy growth at the wrong time.
If your azaleas need an immediate pick-me-up, switch to Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia, and Rhododendron Plant Food.
In spring, just after the blooms fade, apply mulch.
Do not mulch in the fall.
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Types Of Azaleas
Azaleas are divided into evergreen and deciduous categories.
Ourguide to evergreen azaleasfeatures some of the most popular groups.
Except as noted, their bloom season is late winter or spring.
See ourguide to deciduous azaleasfor a full rundown of popular hybrids.
First, finish your pruning by late June.
Once you get into July, most azaleas will start setting flower buds.
Pruning after that will ruin next spring’s floral display.
Do any extensive pruning in late winter or early spring if possible.
you’re free to do some shaping while plants bloomtry using cut branches in arrangements.
For evergreen species, cutting the occasional wayward branch restores symmetry.
To keep bushes compact, tip-pinch frequently, starting after flowering ends and continuing until mid-June.
Prune deciduous azaleas while they are dormant and leafless.
Azaleas can be propagated by stem cuttings, by layering, or by division.
Propagating By Layering
Layering is another method of vegetative propagation that is recommended for evergreen azaleas.
You need a trowel and landscape pins, large paper clips, or a large rock.
Propagating By Division
Division is a method of vegetative propagation that is recommended for deciduous azaleas.
Most deciduous azaleas are stoloniferous, which means that underground stems develop and grow away from the plant.
These stems send up shoots.
Before propagating, be sure that your plant is not patented.
Patented plants are illegal to propagate.
you might check to see if your plant is patent-protected by checking the tag, label, or container.
Patented plants will bear a trademark, registered trademark, or patent number by their name.
Potting And Repotting Azaleas
Compact varieties, such asEncore azaleas, do well in pots.
Plant in well-drained, acidic soil in a pot large enough to accommodate the plants root system.
Because azaleas have shallow roots, they need space to spread.
Top with a layer of mulch.
Choose a location where the plant gets morning sun and afternoon shade.
Since containers tend to dry out quickly, water the azalea regularly to keep it moist.
Apply fertilizer every spring.
Repot into a larger pot when the roots outgrow the container.
Azaleas have a shallow root system, so this will help conserve soil moisture and minimize soil temperature fluctuations.
Fertilizing and pruning should have already stopped mid-summer.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Insects and diseases seldom bother healthy, vigorous plants.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some problems to watch for.
Here are a few of the most common issues that plague azaleas.
It’s simply in its nature to show off.
If you want lots of blooms, focus on the basics.
And don’t overfertilizetoo much nitrogen can actually encourage more green leaves than blooms.
Several factors can cause an azalea not to bloom.
If you have to prune, do it right after the azalea flowers.
However, they do require moist, well-drained soil to do well.
They are generally considered easy to grow.
Some of the more common issues are listed below.
This makes the iron in the soil unavailable to the plant.
Apply a systemic insecticide.
Check the soil and roots and see if they are too dry or too wet.
It is best to take a preventative approach for next year.
Remove the flowers and any debris below the plant.
Remove the mulch and replace it with new mulch.
Do not water overhead.
Consider purchasing azaleas that bloom later in the year.
If you spray with a fungicide, do so in the early spring before it blooms.
Consider buying one that is cold hardy to the area.
Ensure its winter success by making sure the plant receives enough soil moisture and mulch.
These flowers really pop, and you want them to bloom where your garden needs a pop of color.
Greenhouse azaleas do not favor being transplanted into a garden after blooming indoors.
A healthy azalea shrub that is long established in a favorable location can live for multiple decades.
An azalea shrub with a lifespan of 50 yearsor even a centuryare not unusual.
When shopping for azaleas, look for mature plants with healthy foliage and buds.
see to it the variety is suitable for your areas climate and the place you plan to plant it.
Azaleas And Rhododendrons.National Capital Poison Center.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Azalea Society Of America.
Plant Culture And Care.
The American Rhododendron Society.
