Ghent azaleas are hybrids developed in Belgium about 150 years ago resulting from crosses between several American azalea species and R. luteum.Their single flowers, with one ring of petals, or double flowers, with numerous overlapping petals, are 1 1/2 to 2 inches across and come in white and in shades of yellow, orange, pink and red. Let us learn more about these enchanting forest plants. There are deciduous and evergreen varieties of azaleas, and they produce vibrant blooms in varying shades of color. Deciduous Azalea. Tweet. Different Types of Azaleas Azaleas are staples in most gardens because they can survive in various conditions. Hybrid Deciduous Azaleas. For the most part, azaleas bloom earlier than rhododendrons. Experts debate over what defines and azalea as separate from rhododendrons. Many series (types) of hybrid deciduous azaleas were developed in … The Indica types are taller growing and can reach around 3.5m, however they are generally kept lower than this. Prune deciduous azaleas while they are dormant and leafless. Many deciduous azaleas are late flowering so extend the season. Beyond that, azaleas generally have smaller leaves and branches and are more often deciduous, while rhododendrons have larger, leathery leaves and are usually evergreen. All azaleas native of North America are deciduous, which means they lose their leaves in the fall. They can be cut back to keep them in bounds. Evergreen forms are more compact than deciduous types, creating low growing mounds that are densely packed with blooms. The shrub remains bare through the winter and regrows a new set of leaves the following spring. In other words, where species azaleas grow from seeds, the only way to reproduce a hybrid is from cuttings. R. austrinum, the "Florida flame azalea", is the most tolerant of warm temperatures, and is being bred into other deciduous hybrid azaleas (such as the Aromi hybrids below) to increase their heat tolerance. Azaleas generally prefer rich, acidic soil. This probably allows the wood to ripen for producing the best flowering display for the following spring season. True rhododendrons are usually evergreen (there are exceptions). [1] The flower color, fragrance, and number of stamens vary among species. Here are 10 popular types of azaleas to grow in the garden. Gracing woodland gardens and shrub borders with their magnificent flowers, Azaleas and Rhododendrons are popular ornamental shrubs for gardens of all sizes. Climatic conditions, cultural conditions, and the genetics of each plant all affect the amount of foliage retained. At least dappled sunlight is required for optimal blooming on Gibraltar azaleas. The Arboretum is home to over 1000 specimens from the genus Rhododendron. All Azaleas are elepidotes; they never have scales on the bottom side of their leaves. Many species of deciduous azaleas are native to the east, southeast and south and one species grows wild in the west. Pin. While often mistaken for rhododendrons, azaleas are generally smaller in size. The ideal azalea planting location features filtered sunlight and protection from strong winds, as recommended by gardening website Gardens Ablaze. Height to 4ft (1.2m), spread to 5ft (1.5m). Deciduous and hybrid azaleas are broken down into two main categories, as described below. Azaleas have hairs on their leaves that grow parallel to the leaf surface. Evergreen or deciduous, these members of the genus Rhododendron come in all shapes and sizes, from small, ground-hugging shrubs to large, tree-like specimens. Deciduous Azaleas are tolerant of semi shaded positions, but are at their best if planted in full sun. Evergreen vs. Deciduous. by John Haryasz. Unlike rhododendrons, azalea flowers usually have five stamens, rather than ten, and while there are some evergreen varieties, most are often deciduous. Their abundance and variety of flowers make these plants a prized possession. Deciduous azaleas have a stronger root system and will tolerate poorer conditions and a slightly higher pH than other rhododendrons. Deciduous Azaleas, Evergreen Azaleas, Lepidote Rhododendrons, Elepidote Rhododendrons Producing a blaze of color from early spring through the summer, and even into the fall, Azaleas and Rhododendrons are popular ornamental shrubs for gardens of all sizes. Thus the leaves are dimorphic (two types), each type lasting just long enough to keep the evergreen appearance of the azalea in distinct contrast to the deciduous types of azaleas that lose all foliage during late fall and winter. There are almost 10,000 types of Azaleas and they can grow almost anywhere. Successful hybridization of deciduous azaleas was initiated in the 1820's by Mr. P. Mortier, a baker living in Ghent, Belgium. The azaleas native to this continent are deciduous, but most evergreen azaleas originated in Asia. Azaleas one stamen per flower lobe - Rhododendrons have two stamens per lobe. Hardy, Old-fashioned, tall-growing azaleas. The Indian Azaleas are those evergreen types to be found in the florist shops – … We deal with the deciduous ‘Mollis Azaleas ‘ separately. There are both deciduous and evergreen rhododendrons. Deciduous types offer virtually no interest in the winter landscape. Types of Azaleas 12 Different Types Of Azaleas And Why They're Good For. The different types of azaleas vary widely in cold hardiness, sun tolerance, color, size, shape and bloom dates. North American azaleas are deciduous and produce two types of buds. An azalea is a plant in the Rhododendron genus.Rhododendrons and azaleas are very similar, and sometimes the line between the two blurs, but as a general rule, azaleas are smaller, with flowers which tend to be fragrant. The deciduous azaleas have slightly more subtle colours – but no less spectacular – ranging from white through creams to rich golden yellow or orange, or from pink through to deepest red. Deciduous types are more sun-tolerant than evergreen types (although, in the South, you will still want to be careful not to give them excessive sunlight). However, it is the deciduous forest plants that mesmerize us with their ever-changing hues and growth pattern. 15 Different Types of Azaleas For Your Garden. Deciduous azaleas shed all of their leaves in late fall before cold winter temperatures set in. 3. One is a larger and produces about 20 flowers while the other bud produces a leafy shoot. Deciduous Azaleas come alive in late Spring with a profusion of brightly coloured trumpet shaped flowers in a variety of shades, few shrubs produce such a stunning display of colour. He started by crossing R. calundulaceum with R. prinophyllum. In fact, there are over 10,000 different types with many hundreds of different species. To keep bushes compact, tip-pinch frequently, starting after flowering ends and continuing until mid-June. A point of confusion often arises over the term azalea. Azaleas grow well in hardiness zones 6 through 10, but some varieties can tolerate lower temperatures in zones 3 and 4 if they're well-protected. Some deciduous azaleas are very cold hardy and some tolerate heat and humidity. At least two species of deciduous azaleas are native to eastern Canada and several more species are found in New England. They are more tolerant of winter. Plants Shrubs Garden Types Outdoor Rooms Home Tours Biltmore Estate Azaleas The 15-acre Biltmore Estate azalea garden began in 1940 when estate superintendent Chauncey Beadle bequeathed his entire collection of azaleas—which he referred to as his children and considered the definitive American shrub—to the estate. Evergreen azaleas are dense, usually shapely plants; heading back the occasional wayward branch restores symmetry. Azaleas are all in the genus, Rhododendron. Azaleas grow into a compact, flowering shrub that thrives in partial shade. The evergreen types of azalea are the more popular types for residential areas. Hybrid deciduous Azaleas often have a fragrance to match their beautiful, warm, (usually yellow or orange) colored flowers. Evergreen Azaleas. The Southeastern United States is home to more types of deciduous azaleas than the rest of the world combined, and the center of that diversity lies just east of Auburn in Georgia. Kurume azaleas. Most azaleas are deciduous, although most types used in the home landscape are evergreen. Frosts are not so damaging to Azalea mollis types as with the evergreen azaleas. 0 Shares. A hybrid azalea crosses between different types or other hybrids. Azaleas from the Encore series, such as 'Encore Autumn Amethyst' with 'Lemon . Here is a list of Azaleas and Rhododendrons with unusual charm in terms of fall color. Share. If space allows, they are at their best when planted in bold groups and with a mix of varieties. In this article, we'll talk about 10 of the most popular ones. These are often semi-evergreen, with largish single flowers in mid- to late May. They can be grown in soils up to pH 6.5 when plenty of ericaceous compost is added. The Aromi azalea group, or Rhododendron aromi, consists of both an evergreen group, with 31 cultivars, and a deciduous group, with eight registered cultivars. There are 16 types of azaleas that are native to North America, and of these 16, all are deciduous shrubs. They prefer light dappled shade, but can also be grown in sun or more shade. Autumn colour in most varieties: red, orange, yellow shades as the leaves fall. Successful hybridization of deciduous azaleas was initiated in the 1820's by a Belgian baker living in Ghent. Flowering in winter with large flowers, sometimes doubles the wonderful white flowering ‘Alba magnifica’ is one of the most popular, ‘White bouquet’ is another. Several deciduous azaleas are native to North America; others originated in Eastern Europe, Japan, China and Korea. Azaleas have five stamens; leaves do not have scales and often are covered with hairs. True rhododendron flowers tend to be bell-shaped. 1. Most azalea flowers are funnel-form. There are dwarf azaleas, native azaleas, hybrid azaleas, young azaleas but they all have the same thing in common when it comes to pruning. Azalea is one of the most coveted flowering shrub varieties. Evergreen Hybrids. Evergreen Azaleas. Some deciduous azaleas are cold-hardy to Zone 3 (-40°F), while many more are cold-hardy to Zone 5 (-20°F) and warmer. Most deciduous azaleas are very tough (H5-6) and wind/exposure tolerant. The Earth is covered with many types of vegetation, from evergreen forests to desert vegetation. Aromi azaleas have large, fragrant flowers that bloom early in the season. Most deciduous Azaleas have glorious fall colors, extending the season of interest of your flowering shrubs. Plant them in full sun or part day shade. There are many different types of azaleas and most people have had one that looked beautiful but eventually died, usually because it was not a hardy variety. Another key different between azaleas and other plants which share their genus is that the azalea has deciduous leaves, while other rhododendrons or “rhodies” are … On the other hand, deciduous azalea varieties work nicely in woodland settings. The plants from this series are known as the Ghent Azaleas. Some azaleas are very difficult to grow and others are easy so it is very important to select your azalea carefully. Three main evergreen cultivar groups include: Kaempferi azaleas. Evergreen azaleas maintain some of their leaves throughout the year, while deciduous azaleas lose their leaves in autumn. 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