Azaleas

ANR-200 Revised by Ken Tilt and David Williams, Extension Horticulturists; Pat Cobb, Extension Entomologist; Austin Hagan, Extension Plant Pathologist; and Mary Kathryn Gaylor, Research Technician. Originally prepared by Ronald L. Shumack, Extension Horticulturist.

In Alabama, the stars of showy spring flowers are dogwoods and azaleas. The two plants look good together, but it is the azalea that brings the most variety and color in its beautiful flowers. Azaleas may be the most popular flowering shrubs in Alabama.

Azaleas originated in Asia, where they were cultivated in different areas by Buddhist monks. From 1790 to 1853 many ships from Europe found their way to Japan, and azaleas thus found their way to Europe. At first, these "Indian azaleas" were popular greenhouse plants in Belgium, England, France, and Germany.

From England, the first hybrid Indian azaleas were distributed to Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. The first southern hybrid azaleas were planted in Charleston, South Carolina in 1848. Today, azaleas can be found in each climatic region in the Eastern half of the United States and also in most of the Pacific Coast region.

The early botanist Linnaeus distinguished azaleas from rhododendrons by the five stamens that most azalea flowers have, while rhododendron flowers have ten. Carl Maximowicz corrected this mistake in 1870, but, as far as most gardeners are concerned, Linnaeus was right. Actually, all azaleas are rhododendrons. In recent years, however, rhododendron has been used to refer to the plants with large, leathery, evergreen leaves. Azalea refers to those with smaller, thinner leaves. Some azalea varieties are deciduous, which means they lose their leaves in the winter. Others are green year-round.

VARIETIES | POPULARITY LISTS | BUYING | PLANTING: WHERE & WHEN | PREPARATION & CARE | INSECTS & DISEASE | PROPAGATION METHODS | COLD PROTECTION

Sources Of Information

Boulo, Hunter H. N.D. "Propagation and Linear Production." Session II, Azalea Culture Forum, pp. 7-8.

Dirr, Michael A., and Charles W. Heuser, Jr. 1987. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation from Seed to Tissue Culture. Athens, Georgia: Varsity Press, Inc., pp. 187-89.

Free, Montague. 1957. Plant Propagation in Pictures: Garden City, New York: The American Garden Guild, Inc. and Doubleday & Company, Inc., p. 41.

Galle, Fred C. 1987. Azaleas. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, pp. 333-40.

Kingman, Alta R., and R. W. Miller. 1984. Azaleas for South Carolina. Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, Circular 508, p. 7.

Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. Follow all directions, precautions, and restrictions that are listed. Do not use pesticides on plants that are not listed on the label.

The pesticide rates in this publication are recommended only if they are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency or the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. If a registration is changed or cancelled, the rate listed here is no longer recommended. Before you apply any pesticide, check with your county Extension agent for the latest information.

Trade names are used only to give specific information. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System does not endorse or guarantee any product and does not recommend one product instead of another that might be similar.

For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find the number.

For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.

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