Shrub - Azalea

Azalea

Botanical Name

:

Rhododendron spp.

Plant Type

:

Flowering deciduous or evergreen shrub

Seasons

:

Plant in early spring or fall; Blooms from early spring to early summer (some varieties rebloom in fall)

Sun Level

:

Partial shade to filtered sunlight; prefers morning sun (at least 3 hours) and afternoon shade

Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting

:

Optimal range of 60–75°F (15–24°C)

Soil Type

:

Well-draining, acidic, organically rich soil

Hardiness Zones

:

3–10 (USDA)

Germination

:

Seeds germinate in 2–6 weeks in moist, well-aerated conditions

P.H. Level

:

Acidic (4.5–6.0)

Water/Irrigation

:

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; requires more water during blooming season

Fertilization

:

Use an acid-loving plant fertilizer (e.g., 10-5-4) in early spring and after blooming

Habit

:

Compact, mounding, and spreading

Propagation

:

Semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, layering, division, seeds (less commonly used)

Final Plant Height

:

6–10 ft

Spread

:

5–8 ft

Flowers

:

Pink, red, white, purple, orange, or yellow, often trumpet-shaped

Attracts

:

Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

Uses

:

Foundation planting, woodland gardens, container gardening, hedges, and specimen plants

Companions

:

Camellia, ferns, hostas, Japanese maple, hydrangeas

Pruning

:

Light pruning after flowering to shape; remove dead branches in late winter

Toxicity

:

Highly toxic to humans and pets if ingested (contains grayanotoxins)

Pests

:

Aphids, mites, borers, lace bugs, caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, nematodes, scale, thrips, and whiteflies

Diseases

:

Powdery mildew, root rot, petal blight, leaf gall

Fun Fact

:

Azaleas symbolize temperance and passion in different cultures, and in Japan, they are celebrated during the annual Azalea Festival (Tsutsuji Matsuri)

Botanical Name

:

Rhododendron spp.

Plant Type

:

Flowering deciduous or evergreen shrub

Seasons

:

Plant in early spring or fall; Blooms from early spring to early summer (some varieties rebloom in fall)

Sun Level

:

Partial shade to filtered sunlight; prefers morning sun (at least 3 hours) and afternoon shade

Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting

:

Optimal range of 60–75°F (15–24°C)

Soil Type

:

Well-draining, acidic, organically rich soil

Hardiness Zones

:

3–10 (USDA)

Germination

:

Seeds germinate in 2–6 weeks in moist, well-aerated conditions

P.H. Level

:

Acidic (4.5–6.0)

Water/Irrigation

:

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; requires more water during blooming season

Fertilization

:

Use an acid-loving plant fertilizer (e.g., 10-5-4) in early spring and after blooming

Habit

:

Compact, mounding, and spreading

Propagation

:

Semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, layering, division, seeds (less commonly used)

Final Plant Height

:

6–10 ft

Spread

:

5–8 ft

Flowers

:

Pink, red, white, purple, orange, or yellow, often trumpet-shaped

Attracts

:

Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

Uses

:

Foundation planting, woodland gardens, container gardening, hedges, and specimen plants

Companions

:

Camellia, ferns, hostas, Japanese maple, hydrangeas

Pruning

:

Light pruning after flowering to shape; remove dead branches in late winter

Toxicity

:

Highly toxic to humans and pets if ingested (contains grayanotoxins)

Pests

:

Aphids, mites, borers, lace bugs, caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, nematodes, scale, thrips, and whiteflies

Diseases

:

Powdery mildew, root rot, petal blight, leaf gall

Fun Fact

:

Azaleas symbolize temperance and passion in different cultures, and in Japan, they are celebrated during the annual Azalea Festival (Tsutsuji Matsuri)

Written by Nondiah Khalayi – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nondiah-khalayi/