Wild Azalea Care - Learn How To Grow Wild Azalea Shrubs

Do azaleas grow wild?

Many species of deciduous azaleas are native to the east, southeast and south and one species grows wild in the west. Hybrids derived from the native species thrive over large areas of the United States.

How do you plant native azaleas?

Native azaleas need a well-drained, acidic, humus-rich garden soil. To achieve this, amend the soil with organic matter such as ground pine bark, fine pine bark or a bark-based soil additive. A soil pH of 5.0-6.0 is ideal. Because azaleas are shallow-rooted, plant the root ball slightly above the soil surface.

How do azaleas grow best?

Where to Plant Azaleas. Select a location that has morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered light. Hot all-day sun can stress the plants and make them more susceptible to pests. Azaleas also require well-drained, acidic soil.

How do you prune wild azaleas?

After Spring Bloom When pruning a native azalea immediately after it has bloomed use a sharp pair of bypass hand pruners to remove any damaged or dead branches. At this time, I usually only cut back the longer live branches that are spoiling the look and shape of the plant.

What does a wild azalea look like?

Wild azalea is a showy shrub growing up to 8 feet tall. Leaves are alternate, deciduous, clustered, 1 1/2-4 inches long and 3/4-1 1/4 inches wide. They are firm and thick, with a dark green upper surface. ... They are pink (rarely white), trumpet-shaped, about 1 inch long, flaring into 5 petal-like lobes.

How far north do azaleas grow?

Varieties to Fit Your Landscape

Deciduous varieties are considered the hardiest, many growing as far north as Zone 4. Some, such as the bright-pink roseshell azalea (Rhododendron prinophyllum), are even hardy in Zone 3. With few exceptions, most evergreen azaleas are only reliable in Zone 6.

Do azaleas like coffee grounds?

Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers.

What is the best time of year to 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.

Can azaleas be cut back to the ground?

We do not recommend ever cutting an azalea shorter than 12 inches tall. If you cut back the plant all the way to the ground, you risk the plant becoming weakened by poor nutrition or disease and die. The plant may also take up to 3 years to bloom again if you cut back the shrub that much.

How long does an azalea plant live?

Azalea bushes can live for 50 years with proper care. Azaleas are a subgenus of flowering shrubs that can grow up to 6 feet in height and produce numerous large flowers in colors of pink, purple, red or white. They bloom during the spring and can be deciduous or evergreen, depending on the species.

Are azaleas high maintenance?

Azaleas are not high-maintenance plants. If anything, attention to pruning, watering until the plants are established, and a winter's blanket of mulch are all that's required.

Can azaleas take full sun?

Azaleas do well in full sun or part shade (about four hours of sun). Planted in full sun, azaleas will be more compact and floriferous. ... Windy sites are problematic: in winter, winds and sun can desiccate the foliage, of evergreen azaleas especially. Deciduous azaleas are more forgiving.

What to do with azaleas after flowering?

After flowering. Remove the dead flowers. Repotting can then be done if necessary, increasing the pot size by no more than 2.5-5cm (1-2in) in diameter. Most indoor azaleas are imported from the Continent.

How do you make Azalea bushier?

To maintain a more compact appearance or simply to encourage bushier growth, trim azaleas after their blooming period has expired. Taking time to trim azaleas by cutting back the branches of these shrubs will also help renew overgrown plants.

Do azaleas bloom more than once?

There is a variety of Azaleas that blooms more than once; it is called the Encore series. If you have this type of azalea it can bloom again in the summer and in the fall. If you do not have this type of azalea it will not bloom again, and you need to prune them before July.

Where do azaleas grow naturally?

Azaleas are native to several continents including Asia, Europe and North America. They are planted abundantly as ornamentals in the southeastern US, southern Asia, and parts of southwest Europe.

Where do flame azaleas grow?

Azaleas are shallow-rooted and transplant easily in spring or early fall if well balled with soil. The flame azalea thrives in acidic (pH 4-6.0), moist, well drained, sandy or loamy soil rich in organic matter, in habitats protected from winter's harshest weather. A good mulch is recommended.

Are azaleas fragrant?

Depending upon the variety, the azalea can have no scent, be lightly scented or be highly fragranced. Evergreen azaleas rarely have a scent, while native deciduous azaleas can be very fragrant.

Are azaleas low maintenance?

If properly planted, azaleas are low-maintenance plants. ... By midsummer, the plants have already set next year's flower buds, so avoid late-season pruning.

What is the hardiest azalea?

Slightly fragrant and exceptionally cold hardy, Rhododendron 'Karens' is a very eye-catching, dense and compact, semi-evergreen Azalea. In mid to late spring, it bears abundant clusters of 3 to 4 large, open, funnel-shaped, rich reddish-purple flowers, up to 2 in.

How cold is too cold for azaleas?

Just watch the weather report and cover the azalea if temperatures drop below 25 degrees F. (-3 C.), especially if the drop in temperature is sudden or the plant is young. Icy winds and excess sun can damage evergreen azaleas in winter.