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Azaleas evergreens
If we were correct about it evergreen Azaleas would be called Rhododendrons as they are really a dwarf growing form of them. That’s why they look so great planted at their feet. I prefer Azaleas to Rhododendrons as they are a softer plant to have in the garden. They fit into small spaces and have a long flowering period .Many of them flower twice a year, in the autumn and then again in Spring. They flower reliably from the first year of purchase and give of their best even under duress. The saddest, leggiest plant will always produce lovely flowers.
Most evergreen Azaleas are of Asiatic origin. They are a favourite and famous plant in Japan where they are mass planted, clipped and shaped into hedges and other shapes. They are easy plants to grow in well drained soils, lime free soil. As they have a surface mat of fibrous roots that don’t go looking for water Azaleas need adequate watering through dry periods. Always mulch lighter soils to keep the roots cool and to help retain moisture. Prune after the spring flowering. Leggy specimens can be cut hard back into bare wood but feed and water well to encourage new shoots to form.
Winter frosts are normally not a problem as the leaves are last years hardened ones which drop off during spring as new leaves are forming. But late frosts can be damaging to both the new leaves and the flowers. Although Azaleas grow well in shady positions they flower more prolifically out in the open where their shoots are ripened by the sun. They also are a lot more compact growing out in the sunshine.
Azaleas are so useful where you would like a colour spot but not a large growing dominant shrub .Most grow between 60cms and 1 metre tall. Older specimens can attain 1.5 to 1.8ms in height but these are very old. With age the shrub attains a tiered ,almost oriental shape with its small leaves and multi stems.
The flower colour range is red ,pink, salmon, lavender ,purple and white. The indica varieties are the larger showier flowered types. These are either single or double flowered.The single flat flowers smother the bush while the more showy double flowers tend to weight the bushes down with their flowers. I do prefer the single flowered varieties as they flower more cleanly. The large number of petals in the double flowers can trap rain water which in turn encourages grey mould or botrytis which can rot the flowers during rainy periods. My very favourite Azaleas are the Kurumes. These have small leaves with a mass of very small single flowers .But they flower with such a bright profusion and the flowers tolerate rain and frosts. I love to have these mass planted in the garden.
When purchasing Azaleas their labels usually indicate the flowering period. Early translates as late autumn through early spring, Mid season-late winter through mid spring, Late- late spring through summer. Chosen carefully one can have Azaleas flowering in the garden throughout the year.
The worst pest of Azaleas is the Leaf Miner. This pest rolls the tips of the leaves downwards into a tube so it can have a perfect hiding place. The tiny green larvae mine into the leaves to cause brown blotches which are most unsightly. Spray with Neem oil or a systemic insecticide if infestations occur.
 Azalea gretel
 Azalea Palestrina scented flowers
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