All About Azaleas

Azaleas belong to the Heath (Ericaceae) family, which dates back 70 million years. They are related to rhododendrons, blueberries, and pieris. Indica Azaleas are native to Japan.     The Japanese divided azaleas into two groups: Tsutsuji, which includes all varieties that flower 30 days or so after the spring equinox, and Satsuki, which flowers 30 days or so after the Tsutsujis. These azaleas were first introduced into Holland in 1680.

 

• ...in the Garden • Spring Blooming Azaleas: Basic Care • Spring Blooming Azaleas: How to Plant • Encore Azaleas • Encore Azalea Varieties •

• Varieties       • Red       • Pink       • Orange/Yellow                 • White       • Purple

Azaleas are generally described as shrubs, though it is not unusual for some of the deciduous varieties to become small trees in the wild. In established gardens in the south, such as Callaway Gardens, it is not uncommon to find native azaleas
15 to 20 feet tall.

The beauty of azaleas is enhanced by their multiple blooming seasons. Earlier-blooming types, such as Kurume Azaleas (including Coral Bells and Hershey Red) are prized for their beginning to bloom just as warm weather starts.
A little later, the large-growing Southern Indicas begin to bloom, such as the ever-popular Formosa and George Tabor. The hardy Girard’s series, including Girard’s Rose and Arctic Rose, can also provide color as the season moves on.

The late bloomers include the Robin Hill hybrids, such as the multi-colored Hilda Niblet, and also the Satsuki Azaleas, such as the low-growing Gumpo Azaleas and the hot-pink, showy Chinsoy Azalea (sometimes known as Chinzan).
What azalea garden today would be complete without the repeat-blooming Encore Azaleas? These were bred by combining spring- and summer-blooming azaleas to arrive at a plant that provides color not only in the spring, but reliably into the fall.

So, whether you want a spot of color for the shade, or an entire azalea oasis, you can select colors and bloom times and let your azaleas treat you to a wonderful show, year after year!

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Through many years of hybridizing, many varieties of azaleas have been developed with different flower colors, bloom times, hardiness and growth habits. Most plants within a hybrid group will have the same general characteristics. Some examples would be Kurume Hybrid, the early bloomers; Girard’s Hybrids with improved hardiness; or Satsuki Hybrids, the late bloomers.

With proper staging, a full range of flower colors can be enjoyed throughout spring, from mid-March until June.

Bloom Time (key):
Early = March to Mid-April
Mid = Mid-April to Early May
Late = May to Summer

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Azaleas are one of the most popular plants in the South, and especially in the Hampton Roads area. They break winter's hold on us and signal the arrival of Spring. Many people consider their landscape incomplete without the inclusion of azaleas.

Follow these few simple steps to be more successful with azaleas. Have a springtime showcase of multi-hued colors that will be the talk and envy of the neighborhood.
All evergreen azaleas perform best in partial shade or filtered sun. Afternoon shade is preferred. They enjoy a well-drained soil. Trying to grow azaleas in hot, dry conditions is difficult. If you want evergreen azaleas but have no shade, plant several shade trees or pines in the planting bed. These will ultimately cast a light shade that the azaleas will welcome.

Deciduous azaleas are treated similar to evergreen varieties except for their need for full sun for best flowering. Planting, feeding and pruning requirements are the same.

Basic Care:
Azaleas have an attractive natural form and require little pruning. You may want to shape them lightly with hedge shears. Prune after they have bloomed. Prune Encore Azaleas after they’ve bloomed in spring. Feed azaleas two times a year with Greenleaf Plant Food: once after their blooms have fallen; and again late in the Fall when dormancy sets in—usually after Thanksgiving.
Azaleas need to be watered slowly and thoroughly once planted, so that the water penetrates deeply. Azaleas will require the equivalent of one inch of water per week to become established for the first two years.

Irrigation works well because it delivers water directly to the area in need and waters slowly. Much less water is used and wasted this way.

Water deeply twice a week during summer droughts.
• Mulch to reduce weed growth, conserve moisture and stabilize soil temperature.
• Spray with Ferti-Lome Evergreen Spray if lacebugs appear on the underside of the leaves.
• Consult one of our Virginia Certified Professionals.

Azaleas are very desirable landscape plants. Few other plants can rival the mass of color they provide in the spring landscape. We recommend planting at least five azaleas of the same variety to achieve maximum color impact. In fact, the further away the bed is from the primary viewing point, the larger the mass should be.

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Soil:
Azaleas prefer an acid soil, somewhere between a pH of 4.5 to 6.0. The leaves of azaleas growing in pH of 6.5 and above may appear yellow. It is best to have a soil test done ahead of time to determine pH and what steps can be taken to reach the desired pH level. A soil test can be dropped off here at McDonald Garden Center for your convenience.

Organic matter, such as Nutri-Green compost , is an absolute must for azaleas and should be incorporated into the planting area. The organic matter decomposes to form humus, which makes the soil lighter and more open, increases the soil's water holding capacity, and reduces the leaching, or washing away, of soil nutrients. The humus also helps maintain an acid soil and provides nutrients.

Prepare the Planting Bed:
First turn the soil (either by tiller or shovel) to loosen and break up any large clumps of soil. Next add soil amendments. A 10' x 15' (150 square feet) plot requires one 4 cubic ft bag of perlite, and four 40 pound bags of Nutri-Green compost.

Apply to the surface of the bed as evenly as possible and thoroughly mix with the existing soil.
Rake out the soil, and fill in any low spots where water may settle. Water should run away from the center of the bed, or away from the house. Set your plants in place while still in their containers to determine spacing.

Planting:
The plant hole should be wider, but shallower than the root ball. Remove the plant from the container and set it in the hole, insuring at least one quarter remains above the ground. Fill in the hole with the prepared soil, and firm the soil around the root ball to eliminate any air pockets. Mulch to a depth of two to three inches with an organic mulch such as pine bark, pine needles, or hardwood mulch. The addition of Root Stimulator at planting time is recommended. Re-apply root stimulator in 3–4 weeks.
Azaleas have very fibrous roots which remain in the top few inches of soil and should not have any soil covering the top of the root ball.

Scoring:
Container-grown azaleas often develop a very dense mass of finely matted fibrous roots, which can hamper their growth. These plants will benefit by scoring the root ball, or making four equally spaced vertical cuts approximately one inch deep into the root ball, using a serrated knife. It is also helpful to pull or tease apart the roots to counteract the matting. This will encourage development of new roots and help plants become established.

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Beginning in the 1980’s in Louisiana, Robert E. Lee crossed the ever popular spring blooming azaleas with the lesser known summer blooming varieties. His vision was to recreate the beauty of spring blooming azaleas in other times of the year. This resulted in thousands of twice blooming azaleas, from which he selected the best to cultivate and show.
“What Autumn steals from us, these flowers bestow right back.”

These magical plants bloom in the spring like traditional azaleas, but then they keep flowering through the summer, exploding with buds blooming for weeks or even months at a time. But spring isn’t the only true blooming season. It’s autumn also. And when September comes, the Encore azaleas present their most brilliant display, surging with soft blooms of deep orange, pink, red and purple all the way up until the first frost arrives.

These beauties have amazed us with their proven ability to bloom not only in the spring, but again in the fall. Just like a Broadway show or a movie you want to see again, these great azaleas won’t bloom just once, but twice, in the fall then staging an encore show again in spring.

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Autumn Rouge™ Prolific bloomer, flowering from early July through the fall, and blooming again in the spring. • Strong pink to almost red • 4' high by 4' wide • 2-1/4" semi-double bloom • Upright growth habit

Autumn Royalty™ Flowering period is from late July to frost, with blooms appearing again in the spring. • Rich purple • 4-1\2' high by 4' wide • 3-1/2" single bloom • Upright growth habit with globose shape

Autumn Coral™ Blooms abundantly from July through the fall and again displaying an impressive show of flowers in the spring. • Coral pink • 3' high by 3' wide • 3" single bloom • Low, mounding growth habit

Autumn Embers™ Prolific bloomer, flowering from early July through the fall, and blooming again in the spring. • Strong pink to almost red • 4' high by 4' wide • 2-1/4" semi-double bloom • Upright growth habit

Autumn Amethyst™ Flowering begins in early September and extends through the fall with beautiful ‘encore’ in the spring. • Vibrant purple • 3-1/2' high by 4' wide • 2" single bloom • Moderately upright, dense, somewhat spreading growth habit

Autumn Monarch™ Coral blooms present themselves in mid to late August and through fall; repeat bloom occurs in spring. • Coral, highlighted with deep reddish purple flecking • 3-1/2' high by 3' wide • 2" semi-double, ruffled bloom • Upright growth habit

Autumn Cheer™ Blooms appear from early August through the fall and then again in the spring. • Rose pink • 2-1/2' high by 3' wide • 1-1/2" single bloom • Short, dense growth habit (like Kurumes); most compact Encore

Autumn Bravo™ Late August to early September reveals brilliant red blooms that continue through the fall; ‘Encore’ in spring. • Strong bright red • 3' high by 3' wide • 2" single to semi-double bloom • Full, upright growth habit

Autumn Twist™ Prolific bloomer, flowering from early July through the fall, and blooming again in the spring. • White with purple stripes • 4-1/2' high by 4' wide • 1-1/4" single bloom • Upright growth habit

Autumn Princess™ Prolific bloomer, flowering from early July through the fall, and blooming again in the spring. • Strong pink to almost red • 3-1/2' high by 3' wide • 2-1/4" semi-double bloom • Upright growth habit

Autumn Ruby™ Prolific bloomer, flowering from early July through the fall, and blooming again in the spring. • Strong pink to almost red • 3-1/2' high by 3' wide • 2-1/4" semi-double bloom • Upright growth habit

Autumn Empress™ Prolific bloomer, flowering from early July through the fall, and blooming again in the spring. • Strong pink to almost red • 4' high by 3' wide • 2-1/4" semi-double bloom • Upright growth habit

Autumn Carnival™ Prolific bloomer, flowering from early July through the fall, and blooming again in the spring. • Deep hot pink • 3' high by 4' wide • 2" to 2-1/4" single bloom • Low, spreading growth habit

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Last Updated: 8/15/2006
all contents ©2006 McDonald Garden Nurseries.