Rhododendron & Azalea Plant List

Rhododendron and azaleas are adored for their spectacular spring flowers. They also have attractive foliage, sometimes year round, and are useful companion plants in the shrub border and foundation plantings.

What is the difference between Rhododendrons and Azaleas?

Both azaleas and rhododendrons are included in the genus Rhododendron. In our area, the rhododendrons are evergreen with larger, bolder foliage while the azaleas can be either evergreen or deciduous (leaves shed in fall) with smaller leaves.
Rhododendrons are either large leaf or small leaf types:

• Large leaf types have leathery leaves 3 to 6 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide, and bloom in mid to late May. They grow best in morning or filtered sun with protection from strong winter sun and wind.
• Small leaf types have leaves 1 to 2 inches long and ½ to 1 inch wide, and bloom in late April. They grow well in full sun to part sun.

Azaleas are either evergreen or deciduous types:

• Evergreen types may still lose a portion of their leaves going into winter. Blooming in late April, they grow best in morning or filtered sun with protection from strong winter sun and wind.
• Deciduous types drop their leaves, often flowering in the spring before new leaves emerge. Known for their flower bud hardiness and rich colors, most bloom in late May into June, but some bloom even in the heat of summer! For best flowering and foliage quality, grow in full sun. The leaves often display red, orange and yellow fall color.

The hardiness temperature listed for each rhododendron and azalea is the flower-bud hardiness. Dropping below this winter temperature means the plant will probably not flower the following season.

Large Leaf Rhododendron

Name	Size	Description
Besse Howells	3’x4’	Wine red, frilled flowers with a deep red blotch. Compact, low growing. –15 ℉
Boursault	5’x6’	Violet buds open to rosy lilac flowers. Dense, upright plant habit. –20F
Calsap	6’x4	White flowers with a purple blotch. –25 ℉
Capistrano	4’x4’	Canary yellow, frilled flowers. –15 ℉
Catawba Album	5’x5’	Pale lilac buds open into pure white blooms with yellow spots in the throat. –25 ℉
Dorothy Swift	3’x3’	Pink buds open to pale purple-pink, fragrant flowers. Bluish green leaves. –20 ℉
Haaga	5’x5’	Deep purple-pink, wavy-edged flowers. Ultra hardy Finnish hybrid. –29 ℉
Janet Blair	6’x6’	Pale mauve-pink, fragrant flowers. –15 ℉
Lee’s Dark Purple	5’x5’	Very dark purple buds open into purple flowers. –20 ℉
Nova Zembla	5’x5’	Dark red flowers. One of the best dark red rhododendrons for Midwest. –25 ℉
Roseum Elegans	5’x5’	Lavender pink flowers. Deep olive green foliage. –25 ℉
Scintillation	5’x5’	Pink flowers shaded lighter towards the center. Glossy olive green leaves. –15 ℉
Spring Dawn	6’x4’	Rosy pink flowers with yellow throat blotch. Dense, fast growing. –20 ℉
Teddy Bear	3’x3’	Pale pink flowers. Incredible glossy leaves with fuzzy brown undersides. –15 ℉
Yaku Prince	3’x4’	Pale purple flowers. Nicely branched plant. –10 ℉

Small Leaf Rhododendron

Name	Size	Description
Grape Jam	2’x3’	Lavender flowers. Compact, spreading form. –15 ℉
Olga Mezitt	3’x4’	Deep pink flowers blooming after PJM. Light red fall foliage. –30o F
PJM	5’x5’	Lavender-purple flowers in April. Mahogany fall foliage. Proven performer. –25 ℉
PJM Elite	5’x5’	Pinkish purple flowers, pinker than PJM. Little taller and faster growing, too. –25 ℉
PJM Landmark	5’x5’	Deep, dark pink flowers. Glossy leaves, mahogany fall foliage. –25o F
Planeview Apple Blossom	5’x5’	Very pale pink variation of PJM, blooming at the same time. –25o F
Sugar Puff	3’x3’	White flowers edged in pink. Bold red stems in winter. Heavy bloomer. –20 ℉

Evergreen Azalea

Name	Size	Description
Bixby	2’x3’	Bright red flowers. Small, dark green leaves. Low growing, dense form. –20 ℉
Compact Korean	4’x4’	Pale lavender flowers. Orange-red fall color. Sheds lower leaves in winter. –25 ℉
Herbert	3’x4’	Purple, semi-double flowers. Sheds lower leaves in winter. –20 ℉
Karen's	4’x4’	Lavender purple flowers. Sheds lower leaves in winter. –25 ℉
Pleasant White	2’x3’	Pure white flowers in May. –20 ℉
Stewarts	4’x4’	Orange-red flowers. Wine red fall foliage. Sheds lower leaves in winter. –20 ℉

Deciduous Azalea

Name	Size	Description
Camilla’s Blush	6’x6’	Soft pink, fragrant flowers before leaves emerge. Piedmont type. –15 ℉
Candy Lights	5’x5’	Ruffled, very fragrant, pale lavender pink flowers with yellow streaks. –30 ℉
Gibraltar	4’x5’	Large clusters of rich orange, fragrant flowers w/ruffled edges. –25 ℉
Lady Rosebery	6’x5’	Red flowers in late May/June. –20 ℉
Mt. Saint Helens	3’x2’	Layered pink and yellow flowers. Dark green leaves turn bronze-red in fall. –25 ℉
Pink Mist	5’x5’	Summer blooming. White flowers blushed with pink in June-July. –20o F
Pink & Sweet	4’x4’	Light pink w/ yellow throat, spicy-sweet scent. Late blooming. Red fall color. –25 ℉
Ribbon Candy	6’x6’	Summer blooming. Pink flowers w/white stripe June-July. Peppery scent. –25 ℉
Swamp Azalea	4’x4’	White flowers blushed pink in early summer before leaves. Clove scent. –20 ℉
Western Lights	3’x4’	Clear pink flowers in late spring before leaves. Dense foliage has bluish cast. –30 ℉
Weston's Innocence	5’x5’	Summer blooming. White, sweet-scented flowers in July. Mildew resistant. –20 ℉
Weston's Pennsylvania	5’x5’	Summer blooming. Star-shaped, fragrant pink flowers in late July/August. –20 ℉

PLANTING AND CARE

SITE SELECTION
Evergreen rhododendrons and azaleas perform best in full morning sun or filtered/dappled afternoon sun. Late afternoon sun is fine, too. 3-5 hours of morning or late afternoon sun is good for foliar growth and flower bud formation. Plants should be protected from early afternoon sun and wind, particularly in the winter. Use an anti-desiccant such as Wilt-Pruf for additional winter protection. Heavy shade produces spindly plants with few flowers. The soil should be loose and well-drained, never soggy. The best location would be the east side of a building or fence or in the filtered shade of large trees or evergreens. Deciduous azaleas are best in at least 5 hours of full sun.

SOIL PREPARATION
Deciduous azaleas can be planted much the same way as other shrubs (see Planting Handout) the only difference being they definitely benefit from the addition of shredded pine bark mulch as a soil amendment.

Evergreen rhododendrons and azaleas have shallow, fibrous root systems and do best in well-drained, acidic (low pH), organically rich soil. Since our North Shore soils tend to be poorly drained and alkaline (high pH), plant the root ball 1/3 to 1/2 above ground level, add pine bark mulch to improve drainage and soil sulfur to lower pH. Pine bark mulch also increases air space, contains natural fungicides and promotes growth of soil microbes that help prevent "root rot".

SOIL PREPARATION (for evergreen rhododendrons and azalea)

1. Measure height of rootball.
2. Dig hole 1/3 to 1/2 the height of rootball, 3x as wide.
3. Make backfill mixture:
   • 2 parts pine bark mulch
   • 1 part your own soil
   • ¾ cup soil sulfur
4. Sprinkle ¼ cup sulfur in bottom of hole.

PLANTING
Gently remove containerized plants from the pot by slicing the pot open with a sharp knife. Rough up the roots with your fingers if they are tightly circled around. Place the plant into the hole with 1/3 to 1/2 of the rootball above ground level. Fill around the rootball half way with the backfill mix. Gently settle soil by hand to remove air pockets, then fill partially with water and allow to drain. Finish by mounding soil mixture to the top of the rootball and feathering backfill out towards the edges, then water thoroughly. Apply 2-3” layer of the pine bark mulch.

WATERING
Hand water. Do not use overhead sprinklers. A long-handled wand with a soft spray that reaches under the foliage allows you to water the entire root area evenly and deeply. It is better to water deeply and infrequently rather than lightly and often. Keep plants evenly moist, but be careful not to over-water. Check plants for water once a week. If the first inch of soil is dry, soak deeply. In hot weather, check plants more often. In summer, if the soil is moist but the leaves are rolled like cigars and hanging limp, it may be a sign the soil is not draining or the plant is being overwatered which can lead to root rot or fungal disease. Please contact Chalet and let us offer advice if your plant shows these symptoms.

MULCHING
Mulching not only reduces weed growth and retains moisture, but insulates roots against soil temperature fluctuations due to heat and cold. Use shredded pine bark mulch (2-3”) as it also contains natural fungicides and increases beneficial soil microbes that help prevent "root rot". Keep mulch several inches away from the trunk for air circulation and to discourage winter rodent damage. Replenish as needed to keep the depth uniform year round.

FERTILIZING
In early spring, when you’re doing spring clean-up, feed with a slow-release granular fertilizer like Espoma Holly-Tone and apply ½ cup soil sulfur per plant. Water plant first, pull back mulch, sprinkle fertilizer and sulfur evenly over surface, water in lightly, and then replace the mulch, or apply new mulch if needed.