tot sizzle to the spring garden and drama to autumn with these beautiful aboriginal shrubs .
Flame azalea(Rhododendron calendulaceum)is among the most spectacularNorth American native shrubsyou can grow . It lights up the spring garden with its colorful peak and shines brilliantly in the fall with its brilliant foliage . It pull butterflies , hummingbirds , and other pollinators .
flaming azalea ’s common name name to the resemblance of its colorful , upright flower bud to candle flames . With all its assets , it ’s not surprising that flame azalea been used to create many intercrossed option of deciduous azalea , but the native mintage is a knockout on its own . Use these summit to grow flame azaleas in your garden .
Credit:kellyvandellen / Getty Images
kellyvandellen / Getty Images
Where to Plant Flame Azalea
prefer a location that has acidulent grime and splendid drainage for flaming azaleas . Amend overweight soil withorganic matterand conform thepH to 4.5–6.0before planting . The optimum Christ Within condition are Dominicus - dappled nicety or open tone . While the shrub will develop in full shade , it produces fewer bloom there . Flame azaleas can grow in Lord’s Day cater the grease is observe moist , although some afternoon shade is best , peculiarly during hot summers . Some protection fromdrying winter windsis beneficial .
While a flame azalea typically produce 4 to 8 invertebrate foot improbable , it may reach 15 foot or more , so be sure to give it muckle of place . It get a stunning specimen plant or addition to the back of amixed border garden .
Like other azaleas and rhododendron , all parts of the plant are toxic when ingested . Make trusted to localise these plant out of reach of tyke and darling .
Credit:Kindra Clineff
How and When to Plant Flame Azalea
Plant flame azaleas in outpouring or fall . Dig a hole about twice as broad and adequate depth as the pot the plant is raise in . Remove it from the commode and loose the root orb to encourage the stem to spread . If it is rootbound , spray the root orb with a stream of water from a hose to knock off some of the soil and then relax the roots .
set up the root clump in the hole so that it sits slightly high than it was at in the deal , which allows for some subsiding ( you could use some of the soil you dug for the hole to raise the root musket ball , if need ) . Backfill the mess with soil and then water thoroughly . Spread a couple of inches oforganic mulchover the airfoil of the planting area and keep the flora irrigate until it is ground .
Kindra Clineff
Credit:Denny Schrock
Flame Azalea Care Tips
Flame azaleas are well-situated to worry for and require minimal upkeep as long as you select a suitable site .
Light
flaming azaleas do best inpart shade — less than 6 hours of unmediated sunshine per daylight . They lie with sun - dappled shade and undefended shade . They adapt to more sun but should be shaded from hot afternoon sun in ardent regions to foreclose leafage scorch . In full shade , they will not produce as many flowers .
Soil and Water
Moist , well - debilitate soilis essential for success when mature flame azaleas . These bush do not do well inheavy corpse , and they do n’t like wet feet . If your soil pH exceeds 6.0 , amend it with a grime acidifier . bestow organic matter such as compost at planting meter helps the soil retain some moisture . urine newly plant shrubs on a regular basis but allow the dirt to dry middling between watering . After they are established , flaming azaleas are drouth - broad .
Temperature and Humidity
Flame azaleas execute best where summers are not too hot or they are provide with afternoon shade inUSDA zone 5–9 .
Fertilizer
The best clock time tofertilize flaming azaleasis just after they end up bloom . utilise a deadening - freeing granular fertilizer for dot - loving plants following the packaging directions , or spreadhigh - quality compostaround the cornerstone of the plant .
Pruning
When the flaming azalea has adequate space , little pruning is necessaryother than to remove broken or diseased branches . burn these back to a healthy offshoot or bud as soon as you mark them . If the azalea outgrow its space or you desire to qualify the shape , dress immediately after it eat up blooming , abridge back to a healthy branchor bud .
Potting and Repotting Flame Azalea
fire azalea often are sell in 3 - gallon peck , but the shrub produce apace when young and is n’t well - suited to home plate garden container plantings . you may develop the shrub for a twelvemonth or so ina large container(preferably with wheels for mobility ) filled with well - drain potting soil designed for acid - loving plant , but you ’ll need to leave the container outdoors class - rotund . Flame azalea does n’t flourish as a houseplant and benefits from being transplanted into the ground .
Pests and Problems
Although flame azaleas are not susceptible to many pest , they are occasionally infested with lace bug , borers , or weevils . Keep the garden free of weedsand provide good air circulation to avoid problem . cervid browse may be a problem where deer populations are high .
Root buncombe can occur when azalea are grown in heavy soil or land that does n’t drain well . If root rot occurs , do not replant an azalea or rhododendron in that smear .
Powdery mildew — a plant disease that produce a powdery coating on leaves and heyday — occasionally come where air travel circulation is limited . Improve melody circulation by pruning to thin the arm . When watering , aspire weewee at the base of the plant rather than the leaves to prevent the bed covering of the disease .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
How to Propagate Flame Azalea
The easiest mode to start new fire azalea plants in the home garden islayering . Bend a small offshoot so that part of it rests on the territory surface . scratch away a bit of the outer bark where it touches the soil and apply root hormone . Hold it in place in verbatim contact with the grime using a tilt or landscape pin . After two years , the new plant will germinate sufficient tooth root to be split from the parent works and moved elsewhere .
Flame azalea can be propagated bysoftwood cuttingsof new growth occupy from mid - April through former May . Prepare a pocket-size pot with amended garden soil or a soilless mix . Take 6 - in cuttings and dip the bottom in a rooting hormone to increase root growing before inserting it into the planting metier . piddle as needed to keep the intermediate moist . settle should get in four to six weeks , but young plant life should beoverwintered in a inhuman frameor a protected area before implant in the garden .
Flame azalea can also begrown from seedscollected when the seed fuel pod change by reversal brown but have not spread out yet , typically about the time of thefirst fall frost . When the temperature is at least 50 ° degree Fahrenheit , besprinkle the cum thinly on prepared soil in a toilet and barely cut through them . Keep the soil moist but not soggy and place the pot in promising lighter . For even faster sprouting , keep the temperature near to 70 ° F andadd a grow light . The ejaculate germinate in two to three week . Overwinter the seedlings in a cold frame or protect area before transplanting them to the garden . The young plants will blossom in three to four years .
Credit: Andre' Baranowski
Types of Flame Azalea
‘Chatooga’
Rhododendron calendulaceum‘Chatooga ’ bears flowers that are 2 column inch across . They are attractive , ruffled , pink blossom with a yellow blotch . The shrub raise 8 to 12 feet grandiloquent and 5 to 8 feet wide and offers splendid fall colour . zona 5–9
‘Golden Sunset Flame’
Rhododendron calendulaceum‘Golden Sunset Flame ’ produce large efflorescence in orangish , yellow , and gold shades and has great fall leafage color . It grow to 12 feet tall and 8 feet broad . geographical zone 5–8
‘Smokey Mountaineer’
Rhododendron calendulaceum‘Smokey Mountaineer ’ offers vertical emergence up to 12 feet and is spread over with 2 - in , orange - red bloom in belated spring to other summer . In fall , the leafage is spectacular . Zones . 5–9
Flame Azalea Companion Plants
Other native azaleas , such as the pinxterbloom azalea(Rhododendron periclymenoides)and sweet-flavored azalea ( Rhododendron arborescens ) , grow in similar conditions as fire azalea and make lovely companions in a woodland or part shade garden . Other associate plant let in :
Dog Hobble
Denny Schrock
domestic dog hobble , also known asdrooping leucothoe(Leucothoe fontanesiana),is a low - growing , wraith - loving plant that can be used as a shrubby groundcover beneath the taller fire azalea . It often grows near flame azalea in the wild .
Bleeding Heart
Bleeding heart(Dicentraspp . ) works well in part shade . This definitive English garden basic adds color to the woodland garden floor or shady border beneath flame azaleas . It is quick to come up in the spring .
Trillium
Trillium(Trilliumspp . ) is an excellent woodland plant . This perennial get full in a suspect spot , where it blooms in leap . It spreads slowly to organize a clump , so give it room to expand . It is somewhat particular but thrives in the right spot .
Coral Bells
Coral bells(Heucheraspp . ) come in a rainbow of colors . They are super low sustentation as long as they are n’t keep too wet . A positioning with partial shade take out the lovely colors of the leaves . Extend the efflorescence menstruation by deadheading spent salad days .
Frequently Asked Questions
The dramatically colored blooms of flame azalea open from mid - give to former summer ( May to mid - July ) , depend on your locating . The flowers last about two week .
These shrubs can live for 50 long time or more if they are grown in idealistic atmospheric condition . Old specimen may reach 20 infantry tall .
Although some may have a slight scent , most flaming azalea are not noticeably fragrant .
Credit: Justin Hancock
Azaleas and Rhododendrons . Poison Control
