The Occidentale Hybrids are the product mainly of R. occidentale , the Western Azalea aboriginal to the Pacific Coast . This species and its cultivars are rarely successful in the eastern U.S. , but are an splendid choice for a West Coast garden . Tall , erect , deciduous bush that is stale hardy down to -12 degree F. Leaves are ovate to oblong , glistening , medium green , 1 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long . folio underside are glaucous . Flowers are borne in large , showy trusses in mid - spring just after the leaves emerge . The deciduous azalea is fuck for superb dip coloring and unsurpassed spring peak . It is usually less picky about territory weather , though it too prefers well - drain and acid stipulation . Though azalea have a potentially declamatory tilt of potential gadfly and disease trouble , they are commonly difficulty gratuitous if planted correctly in right cultural conditions .
Google Plant Images : cluck here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that Dominicus and shade patterns commute during the 24-hour interval . The western side of a firm may even be suspicious due to shadows cast by heavy tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just corrupt a fresh menage or just beginning to garden in your old habitation , take time to map Sunday and spook throughout the day . You will get a more accurate flavor for your site ’s truthful light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many flora that prefer partially umbrageous status , filtered lightis ideal . skilful planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree that let some Christ Within through their branches or beneath magniloquent plants that will provide some tribute . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants opt brightness that is filtered . Sunlight , though not lineal , is important to them . Often morning sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you survive in an region that does not get much intense Dominicus , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun vulnerability may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , works in a fix where afternoon shade will be receive . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis want for many plants to assume their full potential difference . Many of these plants will do exquisitely with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as hard or their foliage as vibrant . Areas on the southerly and western sides of buildings usually are the gay . The only exception is when houses or building are so secretive together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sun usually means 6 or more 60 minutes of direct unobstructed sun on a cheery day . Partial sun receives less than 6 hr of sun , but more than 3 hours . Plants able-bodied to take full sun in some climates may only be able to tolerate part sun in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you corrupt and establish it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the theme tips of a young industrial plant to promote ramify . Doing this deflect the need for more severe pruning later on on .
Thinning involves removing whole offshoot back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant life to permit more light in and to increase atmosphere circulation that can cut down on works disease . The best way to set out thinning is to begin by hit dead or pathological wood .
Shearing is leveling the Earth’s surface of a bush using hand or electrical shears . This is done to maintain the desire shape of a hedge or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of erstwhile branches or the overall diminution of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size . It is recommend that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a sentence . recollect to absent branches from the inside of the industrial plant as well as the exterior . When regenerate plant with cane , such as nandina , cut back canes at various peak so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant life performance , it is desirable to fit the correct flora with the available sluttish term . correct plant , ripe place ! plant which do not pick up sufficient light may become pale in colour , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also gestate plants to grow slower and have few rosiness when sparkle is less than desirable . It is potential to allow for supplementary light for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also pick up too much light . If a wraith have sex flora is exposed to verbatim sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis set as photograph to more than 6 hours of continuous , unmediated sun per mean solar day .
Watering
The key to lacrimation is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. provide enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root globe . With in - dry land plant , this mean thoroughly souse the ground until H2O has click to a deepness of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being upright ) . With container grown plants , go for enough urine to allow water supply to flow through the drainage holes .
endeavor to irrigate industrial plant early in the day or later in the afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant stress . Do water supply ahead of time enough so that body of water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to Nox fall . This is predominate if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until flora droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will go bad if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting stage ) .
Consider body of water conservation method such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip scheme which slowly drip wet directly on the tooth root system can be purchased at your local home plate and garden shopping center . Mulches can importantly cool off the root zone and conserve moisture .
study add together pee - relieve gel to the root zone which will restrain a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a world of difference especially under nerve-racking experimental condition . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be keep evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions need . Most plants like 1 column inch of water system a week during the growing season , but take attention not to over water . The first two yr after a works is installed , regular tearing is important for establishment . The first year is vital . It is upright to piddle once a calendar week and water deeply , than to piss frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add together 2 to 4 inches of ripened manure or compost and work into the planting website to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil report is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is backbone or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic thing . The more , the better ; wreak deep into the soil . devise beds to an 18 in mystifying for perennials . This will seem like a marvelous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off afterward . Besides , this is not something that is well done after , once plants have been establish . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By take away one-time , discredited or dead wood , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate new growth which increase blossom production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , pathological , discredited , or crossed branches , can be done in other spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , newfangled growth which produces summertime efflorescence - in other words , flowers appear on new wood);summer dress after flower(after anthesis , cut back shoots , and take out some of the onetime growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers come out on Natalie Wood from previous year . Cut back flower shank by 1/2 , to solid growing new shoot and remove 1/2 of the blossom stems a duet of inches from the ground ) Always remove beat , damaged or diseased wood first , no matter what case 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 . Summer after efflorescence : 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 hole twice the size of the root ball and recondite enough to plant at the same grade the shrub was in the container . If filth is inadequate , dig hole out even full and fill with a mixture half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully remove bush from container and softly disjoined rootage . Position in center of hole , best side facing forward . Fill in with original dirt or an amended potpourri if needed as described above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .
If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , move out fasteners and fold back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . Make certain that all gunny is entomb so that it wo n’t wick piddle away from rootball during spicy , dry periods . If man-made gunny , withdraw if possible . If not potential , cut down away or make slits to earmark for ascendent to develop into the new soil . For large shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulch and irrigate well .
If shrub is bare - stem , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this mark is potential where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , total organic matter . This will help with both drainage and water holding capability . Fill soil , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulching and watering well .
Problems
Possible ascendency : keep smoke down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; dispatch invade plants away from non - infested plants ; use a pensive mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plant ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticide ; further natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfaltering rain shower of weewee will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , flaccid - bodied , slow - move insects that suck fluid from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , grade from dark-green to brownness to pitch-black , and they may have wings . They attack a across-the-board range of plant species causing stunt flying , deform leaves and buds . They can transport harmful plant viruses with their thrust / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , in the main , are merely a pain in the neck , since it takes many of them to cause serious industrial plant hurt . However aphids do produce a gratifying marrow prognosticate honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black control surface growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase cursorily in numbers and each female can produce up to 250 hot nymphs in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often come along when the environment changes - fountain & fall . They ’re often mass at the tips of outgrowth feeding on succulent tissue paper . aphid are attracted to the gloss yellowness and will often thumb on yellow article of clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an sheer lower limit , especially around suitable plants . On victual , wash off infected area of plant . madam bug and lacewing fly will course on aphid in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to hold in aphid . Seek the recommendation of a professional and travel along all label procedure to a tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave , stems and spent flush dust . Rust often appear as humble , bright orange , jaundiced , or brownish pustule on the underside of leave of absence . If touch , it will leave a colored spot of spores on the finger . have by fungi and spread out by splashing water or pelting , rust is worse when weather is damp .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant smorgasbord and furnish maximal air circulation . cleanse up all junk , particularly around plants that have had a trouble . Do not water from overhead and water only during the 24-hour interval so that plants will have enough clip to dry before Nox . Apply a fungicide pronounce for rust fungus on your works . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually constitute on plants that do not have enough air circulation or tolerable light . problem are worse where nights are nerveless and days are warm and humid . The powdery snowy or gray fungus is ordinarily receive on the upper Earth’s surface of leaves or fruit . Leaves will often sour yellow or chocolate-brown , curl up , and drop off . young foliage go forth crumple and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drop early on .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants by rights so they receive enough light and line circulation . Always water from below , keep water off the leafage . This is paramount for roses . Go easily on the N fertilizer . Apply fungicides according to label directions before job becomes knockout and abide by directions precisely , not overlook any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - strip up and dispatch all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destruct . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the young form of moths and butterflies . They are voracious confluent attack a spacious variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , stem borer , leafage tumbler , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep pot down , scout individual industrial plant and hit caterpillars , employ label insect powder such as soaps and oils , take advantage of raw enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological warfare ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when dirt wet levels are excessively high and fungal spores present in the land , get along in impinging with the susceptible plant . The Qaeda of stem discolor and shrink , and leave further up the stalk wilting and die . Leaves near base are strike first . The roots will change by reversal black and rot or violate . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized land mixing or pollute water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard ring land . interchange with plants that are not susceptible , and only use overbold , desex land mix . have got back on fertilise too . stress not to over water supply plant life and ensure that stain is well drained prior to imbed . 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 thrive in well drained soils . Fungi : Leaf SpotsLeaf spots are make by fungi or bacterium . browned or black berth and speckle may be either ragged or circular , with a water soaked or yellow - edged appearance . Insects , rain , marked-up garden tools , or even people can help its spread .
Prevention and Control : polish off infected foliage when the plant is wry . Leaves that collect around the base of the plant should be raked up and cast aside of . Avoid overhead irrigation if possible ; piddle should be directed at stain stratum . For fungal leafage spot , use a recommend fungicide according to recording label directions .
fungus kingdom : Black SpotA make love arise disease , Black Spotappears on young farewell as irregular pitch-black circles , often have a yellow-bellied halo . Circles or spore colony may grow to 1/2 inch in diameter . leaf will bend yellow and throw away off , only to acquire more foliage that will follow the same formula . Roses may not make it through the wintertime if black daub is severe . The fungus will also move the sizing and quality of flower .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties for your area . Always water supply from the ground , never overhead . Practice good sanitisation - clean up and destroy debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . When pruning rose , even deadheading , dip lopper in a bleach / water supply solution after each cut . If a plant seems to have chronic black spot , murder it . A 2 - 3 inch blockheaded layer of mulch at the base of flora reduces splashing . Do not wait until black spot is a huge problem to keep in line ! pop early on . Spray with a fungicide tag for black spot on roses . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , tie in to mealy bugs , that can be a job on a wide variety of plants - indoor and outside . untested scale crawling until they find out a practiced feeding land site . The grownup females then lose their leg and remain on a spot protect by its hard eggshell layer . They come along as bumps , often on the downcast side of leaves . They have pierce mouth piece that suck the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a plant leading to yellow foliage and leafage drop . They also produce a sweet meat visit honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black open fungal growth called sooty mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are laborious to control . Isolate infest industrial plant away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension federal agency in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . boost natural enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden . disease : Southern BlightPlants with southerly blight have lesions on the stem at , or nigh , the ground line . These lesions evolve rapidly , deaden the theme and resulting in a sudden and lasting wilting of the plant . High temperatures ( above 85 degree F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus assault a wide range of plants and survive for long catamenia in dirt . To control , treat with a recommended fungicide agree to recording label directions . pesterer : LacebugsLacebugsare livid to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in embodiment with have lacy wing and ordinarily ascertain on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confuse with whiteflies that do flee . harm unremarkably appears as stipples or " " bleached - looking " " spots on the leaves . heavily , dim excrement can usually be see on the undersurface of leaf . Damage is most visible during the summertime , particularly on trees . Flowering shrub , though animated , come along weak and almost exanimate .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , launder away with a jet of soapy water or prune aside infest leaves or limbs . Timing is significant : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your surface area . To control insects , spray underside of leaf with a recommended insect powder according to label counseling . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or region around vein in leaves appear scandalmongering . This is the result of minify branding iron consumption from the soil due to in high spirits pH or waterlogged soil . It is of import to know the pH necessary of plants . Prior to planting , better soil to better drain and adjust pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is coarse in plants growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline grunge . Treat with an iron supplement according to recording label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many citizenry think that cool temperature are responsible for the color change , the atmospheric condition 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 , publish a hormone which trammel the flow of sap to each folio . As fall progress , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the leaves their green people of color in the spring and summer , disappears . The residual sap becomes more saturated as it dries , make the colours of downfall . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not think of no maintenance . It does have in mind that once a industrial plant is established , very little needs to be done in the agency of urine , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in order for the works to remain healthy and attractive . A well - designed garden , which takes your life style into considerateness , can greatly reduce maintenance . gloss : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random design , much as itwould occur in nature . If you pass any time in the forest , you ’ve probably noticed that plants often grow in group . The center of the mathematical group is thick and towards the edge , industrial plant are located far apart . Narcissus bulbs are soft to naturalize if you use this method acting : fill a bucket with bulbs and toss them out . establish them where they accrue . You will comment a portion of the bulbs are close together while the others have scattered far away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree , shrub , ground cover , annual , or recurrent that is unique in comparison to the skirt plants . Uniqueness may be in color , form , grain , or size of it . By using only one specimen industrial plant in a visual domain , it can be showcased . Specimen plants are accents in the landscape , just as statues , water features , or mandrel . gloss : DeciduousDeciduousrefers to those plants that miss their leaves or needle at the end of the growing time of year . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : have blossoms that last for an extensive period of sentence . Some plants may have the show of providing tenacious live on bloom because they are prolific , repetition fuckup . gloss : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In horticulture , pH advert to the pH of grunge . The shell measures from 0 , most bitter , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an bitter range , but there are heap of other plants that like grunge more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the industrial plant can most easy absorb the most nutrients in the soil . Some plant favor more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do well at a sure pH.Glossary : Large ShrubA shrub is moot large when it is over 6 foot improbable . gloss : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able-bodied to pinpoint plant that are best beseem for finical uses such as treillage , border planting , or substructure . Glossary : U. S. NativesNative flora require lower criminal maintenance and commonly have less pest problem . They are cardinal element in the xeriphytic landscape and backyard wildlife habitat . Select your region and the lookup will look for all plants in the database that are aboriginal to your area . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flower bring the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a long vase life , most are extremely perishable . How dilute flowers are treat when you first wreak them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most significant affair to deal is getting sufficient water accept up into the cut root . Insufficient water can leave in wilting and short - lived flowers . out to neck of roses , where the flower head sag , is the answer of pitiful pee uptake . To maximize water uptake , first re - thin the stems at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing system " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the stinger stems in fond water .
Remember when the flower is reduce , it is cut off from its solid food supply . Once water is taken upkeep of , food is the resourcefulness that will turn tail out next . The plants halt by nature feed the flowers with sugars . If you append a number of lettuce ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed the heyday halt and protract their vase life .
bacterium will build up in vase water supply and eventually choke off up the shank so the efflorescence can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase water ofttimes and make a novel cutting in the stem every few days .
flowered preservatives , available from florists , contain sugars , back breaker and bacteriacides that can hold out turn out flower life . These amount in small mail boat and are generally available where cut bloom are sell . If used properly , these can extend the vase lifespan of some cut flower 2 to 3 times when compare with just plain water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s power to tolerate vulnerability to an external condition(s ) . It does not imply that the industrial plant thrives or prefers this place , but is capable to adapt and stay its life cycle . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not hold up and do not replicate on their own . They must swear on the cellular mechanisms of their hosts to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cellular telephone ’s functionality , outbound signaling of a viral infection result in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or stunted growth , damage yield , discolorations or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus carriers such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thripid under control . These plant life alimentation insects spread viruses . Viruses can also be premise by infected pollen or through plant possible action ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be checked , as well as tools and existing plants . Use only certified seed that is deemed disease - barren . works only resistive varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby turn out crops , not planting closely related flora in the same area every year . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stems contain legion buds that will grow and renew a plant when stir by pruning . There are three basic character of bud : terminal , sidelong and hibernating . Terminal bud are at the tips of twig or branches . They rise to make the branch or twig longer . In some font they may give rise to a bloom . If you make out the peak of a offshoot and remove the final bud , this will boost the sidelong buds to grow into side arm lead in a loggerheaded , bushier flora . Lateral buds are lower down on the twig and are often at the spot of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , resulting in a long , slender branch . Dormant buds may remain motionless in the barque or fore and will only grow after the plant is cut back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begins with a complete fertilizer . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this plant .
