Azalea Plant Profile
Azaleas are flowering shrubs that are members of
the Rhododendron genus. They are native to North America, Asia, and
Europe. Their flowers dazzle in shades of shimmering pinks and pale peaches to
deep reds and pure white. Evergreen azaleas are in the subgenus Pentanthera and deciduous azaleas
are in the subgenus Tsutsutsi.
They are generally hardy to USDA zones 6-9, though there are a few cold-hardy
varieties available as well.
You can put together collection of early-, mid-and late-season
blooming varieties and have an azalea flowering in your garden for six months
or more… and with the newer re-blooming varieties, the flowering season can
extend practically all the way through the year.
Plant them in the fall or early spring in a part-sun
location where they can attain their full size and you will never need to prune
them. They do not love to be in hot afternoon sun and prefer an acidic soil,
but basically they are low-maintenance and rewarding shrubs that can live over
100 years.
If you do wish to prune them, do so right after they finish
flowering, so you don’t cut off next year’s buds. Remove dead or damaged
branches at any time of year.
A mulch of pine bark, pine needles, or wood chips helps to
keep moisture in the ground, even out changes in the soil temperature, and
keep weeds out. Fertilize azaleas after their spring bloom using a
slow-release, acid-loving plant food and water the fertilizer in
well.
Azaleas are easily propagated from cuttings or by layering.
Species azaleas can also be grown true from seed .
Pollinators love azaleas. In particular, white-blooming
kinds attract nighttime moths and red-blooming ones attract hummingbirds.
Azaleas are long cherished as symbols of spring and
renewal. They are extremely popular landscape plants due to their brightly
colored blooms, long-lasting flowers, and their ease of cultivation. 2026 is
the Year of the Azalea and April is Azalea Month. Find out more about azaleas
at the Azalea Society of America website:
https://azaleas.org/.
Azaleas
– you can grow that!
2026 is the #yearoftheazalea
And #AprilisAzaleaMonth
Benjamin Y. Morrison, the famed horticulturalist who was the
founder and first director of the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC, is
noted for cross-breeding different strains of azaleas to produce the Glenn Dale
cultivars, which are prevalent today throughout the eastern United States.
Morrison lived in Takoma Park, MD, and many of his Glenn Dale introductions can
be seen throughout the city’s private home gardens and public parks.
You don’t want to miss the seasonal display of azalea in
mass plantings at the U.S. National Arboretum. See our list of 20+ more top
viewing spots in the Washington, DC, region on our blog at
WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com (https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/top-local-spots-for-azalea-viewing-best.html).
Updated from a
previous version.
The video was produced
by Washington Gardener Magazine.
Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz
Editing by Aicha Bangoura
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If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant
Profiles:
~ Aronia: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/05/aronia-chokeberry-plant-profile.html
~ Carolina Allspice: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/carolina-allspice-plant-profile.html
~ Mock Orange: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/03/mock-orange-plant-profile.html
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