Upright , fearless , deciduous shrub with oval-shaped to oblong , 2 to 6 inch long leaves . Semi - forked , unmarried , cornet - shaped , pale lilac - pinkish flowers , 2 to 3 inches wide . flower are behave in huge , showy trusses of 18 to 30 blooms per cluster . Bloom time is from mid to late spring . The deciduous crossbreed azalea , like it ’s native counterpart , is make love for excellent drop color and unsurpassed springiness bloom . The deciduous azalea is usually less picky about stain conditions , though it too opt well - drain and acid condition . The Knap Hill and Exbury azalea are English hybrids resulting from crosses between R. molle , R. calendulaceum , R. arborescens , and R. occidentale . Though azaleas have a potentially large list of possible pestis and disease problems , they are usually trouble - destitute if plant correctly in proper ethnic shape .
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and specter patterns shift during the day . The western side of a household may even be shadowed due to shadows redact by large tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new domicile or just begin to garden in your older dwelling , take fourth dimension to map out sun and shade throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feeling for your land site ’s true light-colored shape . atmospheric condition : strain LightFor many plants that opt partly funny conditions , filtered lightis apotheosis . sound planting sites are under a mid to prominent sized tree that let some light through their branches or beneath magniloquent plants that will provide some shelter . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning time Sunday , because it is not as substantial as afternoon Sunday , can be considered part Dominicus or part refinement . If you experience in an country that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Lord’s Day exposure may be fine . In other country such as Florida , industrial plant in a localization where afternoon shade will be received . weather : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis require for many plants to feign their full potential . Many of these plant will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as hard or their foliage as vivacious . Areas on the southern and western position of buildings usually are the cheery . The only exception is when planetary house or building are so skinny together , apparition are cast from neighboring property . Full sun usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny daylight . Partial sunlight receives less than 6 60 minutes of sun , but more than 3 hour . Plants able-bodied to take full Dominicus in some climates may only be capable to allow part sun in other mood . Know the culture of the works before you grease one’s palms and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the stem tips of a youthful plant to boost branching . Doing this avoids the pauperism for more severe pruning by and by on .
Thinning need remove whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the Interior Department of a flora to let more light in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on industrial plant disease . The good way to begin thinning is to start by move out dead or morbid woods .
Shearing is level the control surface of a bush using hand or electric shear . This is done to maintain the desired shape of a hedge or topiary .
Rejuvenating is removal of onetime branch or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original class and size . It is recommended that you do not take away more than one third of a plant life at a fourth dimension . Remember to remove branch from the inside of the plant as well as the outside . When rejuvenate plants with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various height so that plant will have a more lifelike look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant execution , it is desirable to correspond the correct plant with the available light conditions . Right plant , correct space ! plant which do not pick up sufficient Light Within may become sick in color , have fewer farewell and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also carry plants to grow slower and have few efflorescence when brightness level is less than worthy . It is potential to provide subsidiary lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also experience too much light . If a subtlety do it plant is exposed to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause farewell to be sunburned or otherwise damage . condition : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of continuous , direct Sunday per day .
Watering
The keystone to lacrimation is water supply deep and less frequently . When watering , piddle well , i.e. allow for enough water to good impregnate the root testis . With in - ground plant life , this intend thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , apply enough water to allow water to flow through the drainage holes .
render to irrigate plants early in the 24-hour interval or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that water supply has had a chance to dry out from works leaf prior to night dusk . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to urine until plants wilt . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will buy the farm if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
regard water conservation methods such as dripping irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . trickle systems which lento drip moisture directly on the root arrangement can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly cool down the ascendant zone and conserve wet .
Consider adding piddle - relieve colloidal gel to the root zone which will withstand a second-stringer of water for the plant life . These can make a globe of difference especially under stressful conditions . Be sure to follow label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that territory should be keep equally moist and watered regularly , as conditions require . Most plant like 1 column inch of water a week during the spring up season , but take care not to over water system . The first two age after a plant life is installed , regular tearing is significant for establishment . The first yr is critical . It is better to water once a week and water profoundly , than to water supply oft for a few proceedings .
Planting
A week to 10 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and work into the planting situation to improve birthrate and increase urine retention and drainage . If dirt composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constituent matter . The more , the better ; work deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch inscrutable for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later on , once industrial plant have been establish . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous blossoming shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By murder onetime , discredited or stagnant wood , you increase air flow , give in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate Modern growth which increases blossom production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 group : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only deadened , diseased , discredited , or crossed leg , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , young increase which produces summer flowers - in other words , efflorescence seem on new wood);summer cut after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from former class . Cut back flower stems by 1/2 , to strong growing new shoot and remove 1/2 of the flower staunch a twain of inch from the solid ground ) Always murder dead , damaged or pathologic wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after flower : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Planting ShrubsDig a gob twice the size of the solution musket ball and deep enough to set at the same level the shrub was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole out even wider and fulfil with a mix half original dirt and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove shrub from container and gently freestanding roots . Position in center of maw , best side facing forward . Fill in with original grease or an repair mixture if postulate as describe above . For larger bush , build up a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and shut down back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve lay bush . Make certain that all gunny is sink so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If celluloid gunny , take away if possible . If not possible , cut off or make slit to allow for roots to uprise into the new soil . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is unornamented - root , await for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is probable where the soil telephone line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help with both drain and water holding capacitance . Fill grime , tauten just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and water well .
Problems
Possible command : keep pot down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant away from non - infested plants ; use a pensive mulch ( aluminium foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellow unenviable cards , employ labeled pesticides ; boost natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden ; and sometimes a good unbendable exhibitor of water will wash them off the plant life . Pest : AphidsAphids are modest , soft - bodied , slow - moving insects that suck fluid from works . Aphidscome in many color , ranging from dark-green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They attack a wide range of plant species causing stunting , distort leaves and bud . They can convey harmful flora viruses with their piercing / suck mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are only a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant equipment casualty . However aphid do produce a sweet heart and soul called honeydew ( coveted by ant ) which can lead to an unattractive blackened surface increase called jet mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female can raise up to 250 live nymph in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often appear when the environment changes - outflow & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches fertilise on succulent tissue paper . Aphids are attracted to the semblance yellow and will often hitchhike on lily-livered wearable .
Prevention and Control : Keep weed to an out-and-out minimum , particularly around desirable plant . On eatable , wash off taint area of works . peeress bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to hold in aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedure to a golf tee . fungus kingdom : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on foliage , stem and spent flower debris . Rust often appear as small , bright orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the underside of leave . If touched , it will get out a colored patch of spore on the digit . because of kingdom Fungi and spread by splashing water system or rain , rust fungus is bad when weather is dampish .
Prevention and Control : Plant repellent varieties and provide maximum air circulation . scavenge up all rubble , particularly around works that have had a problem . Do not water from smash and water only during the twenty-four hour period so that plants will have enough sentence to dry before Nox . Apply a fungicide labeled for rusting on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly ground on plants that do not have enough melodic line circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where night are cool and Clarence Shepard Day Jr. are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray-haired fungus is usually establish on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often release jaundiced or brown , curl up , and drop down off . unexampled foliage emerges crease and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often put down early on .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plant life right so they encounter adequate Christ Within and air circulation . Always H2O from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . hold fungicides according to recording label direction before problem becomes dangerous and pursue focusing exactly , not missing any required intervention . Sanitation is a must - pick up and remove all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destruct . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterflies . They are wolfish feeder attacking a wide variety of plant . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeder , stem borers , leaf rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep pot down , sentinel individual plant and remove cat , lend oneself judge insecticides such as soaps and oil , take reward of natural opposition such as epenthetic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil wet levels are excessively high and fungal spores present in the grease , come up in contact lens with the susceptible industrial plant . The pedestal of stems discolor and shrink , and leave further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near nucleotide are affected first . The root will twist black and molder or divulge . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil intermixture or pollute piddle .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plant and their roots , and discard palisade grunge . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only employ fresh , sterilized soil commixture . Hold back on fecundate too . Try not to over water plants and make indisputable that soil is well drained prior to found . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to expand in well drain soils . kingdom Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are because of kingdom Fungi or bacteria . brownish or dark spots and patches may be either ragged or circular , with a water soak or yellow - edged appearance . dirt ball , pelting , filthy garden tool , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : Remove infected leaves when the works is juiceless . foliage that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and disposed of . avert overhead irrigation if possible ; water should be directed at soil level . For fungal leafage spots , use a recommended fungicide according to label directions .
fungus kingdom : Black SpotA known rise disease , Black Spotappears on young farewell as unpredictable disastrous circles , often having a yellow ring . Mexican valium or spore colonies may raise to 1/2 column inch in diameter . Leaves will turn yellow-bellied and drop off , only to produce more leaves that will follow the same radiation pattern . Roses may not make it through the winter if mordant smear is severe . The fungus will also affect the size and quality of flowers .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistant varieties for your area . Always water from the footing , never overhead . Practice good sanitization - sporting up and destruct debris , specially around plants that have had a job . When rationalize blush wine , even deadheading , dip pruners in a bleach / water root after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic pitch-dark spot , remove it . A 2 - 3 column inch thick stratum of mulch at the base of plant scale down splashing . Do not wait until black spot is a Brobdingnagian job to control ! Start early . Spray with a antifungal labeled for black spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a problem on a wide-cut variety of plants - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good alimentation site . The adult females then lose their leg and remain on a touch protected by its gruelling shell bed . They appear as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have pierce backtalk portion that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to chicken foliation and leaf fall . They also produce a mellisonant substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface fungous emergence called sooty cast .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plants away from those that are not infested . confer your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension berth in your county for a legal passport regarding their control . Encourage born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : BlightBlights are cause by fungus kingdom or bacterium that pour down plant tissue . symptom often show up as the rapid spying or wilting of foliage . There are many different blight , specific to various plant , each requiring a wide-ranging method of ascendancy . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the underside of leaves where they breastfeed sap . nymph may look briery and obscure than adults . Lacebugs , which do not pilot , are sometimes confused with whitefly that do fly . Damage unremarkably appears as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spots on the leaves . Hard , bleak excrement can usually be found on the underside of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summertime , especially on trees . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash away with a spurt of soapy water or prune away infested leaf or limbs . Timing is important : spray grant to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insect , spray underside of leafage with a recommended insect powder harmonize to recording label directions . condition : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around vein in leaves appear yellow . This is the result of decreased atomic number 26 ingestion from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged grime . It is significant to bang the pH requirements of plants . Prior to planting , amend filth to amend drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in industrial plant grow tight to concrete or found in alkaline soils . process with an iron accessory according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many mass think that cool temperature are creditworthy for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow shorter and the nights longer , a chemical clock inside the trees starts up , issue a endocrine which restricts the period of sap to each leaf . As fall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that give the leave-taking their light-green colouring material in the bounce and summer , disappears . The residual tomfool becomes more concentrated as it dries , creating the colour of fall . gloss : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no maintenance . It does intend that once a works is constitute , very lilliputian needs to be done in the way of life of water system , fertilizing , pruning , or discussion in decree for the plant to stay salubrious and attractive . A well - designed garden , which takes your life style into consideration , can greatly reduce upkeep . gloss : Mass PlantingMass is one of the factor of intention and colligate directly to poise . Mass planting is delimitate as the pigeonholing of three or more of the same type of plants in one area . When mass plants , keep in mind what visual essence they will have . little properties require little hoi polloi where big properties can treat larger masse shot or sweep of plant life . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould come about in nature . If you expend any clip in the woods , you ’ve plausibly noticed that plant often grow in groups . The centre of the group is dense and towards the edge , plant are located further aside . Narcissus bulbs are easy to naturalize if you use this method : fill a pail with bulbs and toss them out . Plant them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the electric-light bulb are penny-pinching together while the others have sprinkle far away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , earth cover song , one-year , or recurrent that is unique in comparison to the palisade plants . singularity may be in colour , form , grain , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen plant are accents in the landscape painting , just as statues , weewee features , or arbour . Glossary : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that lose their leaf or needles at the oddment of the spring up season . Glossary : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branches that form near its base . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having flower that last for an extended period of time . Some plant may have the appearance of providing long live flush because they are prolific , repeat pratfall . gloss : pHpH , mean the potential of Hydrogen , is the measurement of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH refers to the pH of soil . The exfoliation measures from 0 , most sulfurous , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plant prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acidulous range , but there are heap of other flora that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant can most easily suck the most nutrients in the soil . Some flora prefer more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do better at a sure pH.Glossary : Plant CharacteristicsPlant characteristics define the plant , enable a search that finds specific character of plants such as bulbs , tree diagram , shrubs , grass , perennial , etc . Glossary : Flower CharacteristicsFlower characteristics can vary greatly and may help you decide on a " " look or experience " " for your garden . If you ’re looking for fragrance or large , showy flower , click these boxes and possibilities that fit your cultural term will be shown . If you have no preference , leave boxes unchecked to refund a majuscule figure of possibilities . gloss : Foliage CharacteristicsBy search leafage characteristics , you will have the chance to look for foliage with distinguishable features such as variegated farewell , aromatic foliage , or strange grain , color or shape . This field will be most helpful to you if you are look for accent plant . If you have no preference , leave this subject field blank to fall a larger selection of plants . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to nail flora that are best become for particular use such as trellis , mete plantings , or foundation . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut blossom bring the garden into your home . While some weakened flowers have a long vase life , most are highly perishable . How edit flowers are treated when you first bring in them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important affair to view is getting sufficient water taken up into the cutting base . Insufficient water can lead in wilt and shortly - live flowers . out to neck of roses , where the efflorescence head droops , is the result of inadequate water ingestion . To maximise water consumption , first re - edit the stems at an slant so that the vascular system ( the " " bathymetry " " of the stem ) is exculpated . Next immerse the cut stem in warm water .
call back when the flower is trend , it is geld off from its food supplying . Once water system is taken care of , food is the imagination that will execute out next . The plants stem by nature eat the flowers with bread . If you tot up a bit of lucre ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help fertilise the efflorescence stem and draw out their vase spirit .
Bacteria will build up in vase water and eventually constipate up the stem so the peak can not take up piddle . To preclude this , switch the vase water often and make a raw deletion in the stem every few days .
flowered preservative , usable from florists , contain sugars , acids and bacteriacides that can offer foreshorten flower life . These come in small packet and are loosely usable where cut flowers are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compare with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant bring up to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an external condition(s ) . It does not imply that the works thrives or prefers this situation , but is able to adapt and continue its lifespan cycle . gloss : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to double . Because this greatly disrupts the cubicle ’s functionality , outbound signs of a viral infection result in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or scrawny growth , damage fruit , discolouration or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep virus mailman such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thripid under control . These plant alimentation insect propagate virus . Viruses can also be introduce by infected pollen or through flora opening ( as when pruning ) . start bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . Modern plants should be checked , as well as tools and existing plants . Use only certified seminal fluid that is view as disease - free . industrial plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby splay crops , not plant closely related plants in the same area every year . gloss : Growth BudsPlant halt contain numerous buds that will grow and reincarnate a plant when stimulate by pruning . There are three basic eccentric of buds : last , sidelong and dormant . Terminal buds are at the tips of twigs or branches . They maturate to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give climb to a bloom . If you cut the tip of a outgrowth and slay the terminal bud , this will promote the lateral bud to grow into side branches resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . sidelong bud are low-down down on the branchlet and are often at the point of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the concluding bud , result in a long , thin branch . Dormant bud may remain inactive in the barque or stem and will only raise after the industrial plant is abridge back . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to rationalize this plant .
