Azaleas have been referred to as the “Royalty of the Garden” for their intensely coloured flowers, overall shape and finely textured foliage. When in bloom they are definite show stoppers.
It is often difficult to tell the difference between Azaleas and Rhododendron. All Azaleas are rhododendrons but not all rhododendrons are azaleas which is why they do look similar. The best way to determine which one you are looking at is to remember that Azalea flowers have just 5 stamens while rhododendrons flowers can have 10 or more in each of their blossoms.
Glen Echo Nurseries stocks Deciduous Azaleas, with most being part of the Northern Lights Series. The Northern Lights Series are very hardy (bred to withstand temperatures of -35 to -45°), and easy to care for in our area. The bloom time for these stunning shrubs can vary greatly by variety. There are a few rules of thumb to follow to be a successful Azalea grower. First, they do love sun – at least 6 hours a day. Second, you cannot let them dry out. They like to be kept moist without being too wet. Applying a decent amount of mulch can keep the soil moist in summer and also protect the plant during the winter months. Mulch will also provide all of the nutrients that azaleas need while the mulch decays. Mulch will have to be topped up and most gardeners like to do this every spring. And third, they do their absolute best in an acidic soil, as do their companions rhododendrons and blueberries.
Please Note: To promote flowering for the following season, any pruning should be done soon after blooming, to leave enough time for the buds to reset.
Don’t be afraid to plant these tough, easy to grow, incredible shrubs – the rewards are worth it!