How can you tell the difference between an azalea and a rhododendron?
Rhododendrons produce large, bell-shaped flowers in clusters whilst azaleas blooms are smaller and either tubular or funnel-shaped. Both mainly flower in spring but with a growing range of summer flowering varieties now on offer, with “encore azaleas” blooming in early spring then again in the summer.
Can azaleas and rhododendrons be planted together?
Additionally, both of these shrubs prefer filtered light or afternoon shade. Rhododendrons and azaleas can often be found growing under the canopy of oaks or in the shade of pine. These trees also prefer acidic soils, making them ideal companions for azaleas and rhododendron.
How big does a rhododendron shrub get?
Rhododendron
| genus name | Rhododendron |
|---|---|
| plant type | Shrub |
| height | 3 to 8 feet 8 to 20 feet |
| width | Up to 25 feet |
| flower color | Purple Red Orange White Pink Yellow |
Where does Pinxter azalea grow?
This plant has a slow growth rate and prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soils in dappled shade with protection from afternoon sun which can scorch the leaves. It does not tolerate dense clay, so if you have clay soil, amend with organic material. Plant the root ball high in the soil to help with drainage issues.
What does Rhododendron look like?
The flowers are bell-shaped and are born in clusters known as trusses. They may be white, yellow, orange, pink, red, or purple in color. The flowers are often decorated with spots of a different color from the rest of the flower. Most of my local plants bloom in May, though some produce flowers in April.
What does azaleas look like?
Azaleas usually have smaller, funnel-shaped flowers, while rhododendrons’ larger flowers are more bell-shaped. Although azaleas tend to bloom earlier, both rhododendrons and azaleas typically bloom in the spring, with some varieties blooming into summer and fall in some locations and climates.
How do you take care of azaleas?
Keep azalea soil evenly moist, so it never dries completely out and never stays overly wet. Sunny plantings generally need more water than shaded plantings, which don’t dry out as fast. A 3-inch layer of organic mulch helps retain soil moisture and keep soil temperatures from fluctuating.
What month do you plant azaleas?
The best time to plant azaleas is in spring and fall. Plant them in a sunny spot that gets a good amount of afternoon shade. When planting azaleas, fill the hole with a 50/50 blend of existing soil and Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Trees & Shrubs.
What is the best type azalea?
21 of the Best Azalea Series and Cultivars to Grow at Home
- Electric Lights Double Pink.
- Fireball.
- Gibraltar.
- Klondyke.
- Lemon Lights.
- Mollis Hybrid.
- Pink-A-Boo.