|
|
|
|
Azaleas deciduous
These very showy flowering shrubs flower from late October through to the end of November. They flower in shades of orange, apricot, yellow and golden colours not found in evergreen Azalea types. Flowers also range from cream and white, delicate pinks, rosy pinks and fiery reds. As they flower later in the season the flowers miss the damaging frosts.Also being deciduous these shrubs are totally cold hardy.
The flowers are borne on bare branches and every inch of the shrubs are covered with the glorious flowers to give a breathtaking spring display of flowers. Green leaves emerge as the flowers are shed and the shrub is a nice neat background mass of green until autumn. Then the leaves turn various shades of pink, red, apricot, yellow and purple before falling. Another bonus is fragrant flowers. Not all are fragrant but most modern hybrids have the fragrance gene. The scent is warm and delicious and wafts over the garden on a warm day.
Deciduous Azaleas are close relatives of Rhododendrons and require the same growing conditions, but they grow bushier and flower better when grown in full sun. Grow in deeply worked, free draining, but moisture retentive soil. Keep watered through dry spells and feed in the autumn with acid fertiliser and sheep pellets. As the flowers coincide with spring gales site where they are sheltered from such winds.The sturdy bushes will not break but the large flowers will be shredded.
Most Deciduous Azaleas grow under 2 metres so can be accommodated in smaller gardens. I have seen them used as background fillers in perennial borders and rose gardens. They give structure and interest when these other plants are still only covered in leaves. Prune after flowering if a smaller neater bush is required otherwise leave to grow their own shape. Remove spent flower heads to encourage new leaf growth.
Deciduous Azaleas are fairly slow growing but expect them to remain as dependable neat shrubs in the garden for decades. They flower from a young age and flowering plants are sold every spring in nurseries and garden shops. This makes choosing them easy. They are lovely shrubs grouped together with the different colours in the range. Each colour offsets the other.
They are very shallow rooting, their fibrous root system only extending out to the outer branches. For this reason do not cultivate under these shrubs. But they can easily be moved at any age as the root ball is so compact .Move only when the shrub is dormant in winter.
 Azalea Pavlova
A. Caroline de Rothschild- Large frilly double pink flowers with a gorgeous perfume. Spectacular purple coloured autumn leaves.
A. Glowing Embers- Rich glowing orange flowers with golden lights.
A. George Reynolds- Large golden buttery yellow flowers with a touch of green in the throat.
A. Golden Sunset- Orange red buds open to large bright primrose yellow flowers with an orange flare.
A. Irene Koster- Sweetly scented rose pink flowers open with an orange flare.
A. Klondyke- fragrant golden yellow flowers are followed by bronzy leaves.
A. occidentalis delicatissima- Soft pastel pink flowers are flushed deeper pink and have a striking orange flare. Very fragrant.
A. Pavlova- Double creamy white flowers with a delicious fragrance.
A.Raspberry Ripple- Frilled large Raspberry pink flowers. This colour looks vibrant among the oranges ,reds and yellows of others ,a wonderful clash and mix of colours
A. Silver Slipper- Pale silvery pink flowers have a yellow flare.
A. Sun Chariot- Spectacular very large butter yellow flowers with an orange yellow blotch.
A.Wallowa Red- Deep ruby red single flowers with a seductive perfume
|
|
|
