Rhododendrons and azaleas are the epitome of spring and when in full bloom nothing compares to their show-stopping, vivacious displays of colour at that time of year. Enchanting when viewed close up and a grouping of them viewed at a distance or encountered in a woodland setting is nothing short of glorious.

Rhododendron and Azalea Groups
One of the most common questions asked by customers is “what is the difference between a Rhododendron and an Azalea?”  It’s not straight forward to answer so, here is the botanical explanation!

All Azaleas are members of the genus Rhododendron. Rhododendron is a genus (a group of plants with shared characteristics) and Azaleas are a group within that genus, rather than forming a genus of their own.  Distinguishable differences are:

– An Azalea has approximately 5 stamens in the flower, while other rhododendrons have 10 or more.

– Azaleas may be deciduous or evergreen, but other rhododendrons are evergreen.

– Azaleas are small to medium sized shrubs, but other rhododendrons range from tiny prostrate shrubs to huge woodland trees.

So, within the Rhododendron genus, we’ve separated them into categories to help with your selection. In this article we are going to focus on the most popular categories sold at Coolings namely, dwarf, yakushimanum, big leaved and deciduous Azaleas.

Dwarf Rhododendrons
These are mainly alpine varieties, and range from very tiny plants from 20cm up to around 80cm after ten years. They can be species (found in the wild) or hybrids (bred by man).  Generally, they boast small leaves and mainly flower in April time. They look fabulous planted in groups of three of five and are perfect for smaller spaces and rock gardens. Some of our favourites this year are ‘Cream Crest‘, ‘Patty Bee‘ and ‘Princess Anne‘.

Rhododendron yakushimanum
This sought-after group of hybrids originate from Yakushima Island in Japan where they grow naturally. They produce big, showy flowers but are nice and compact, growing into mound shaped plants. Ideal for smaller gardens, near the front of the border, or in containers. The incredibly beautiful and exceptionally floriferous Rhododendron ‘Percy Wiseman‘ is a particular favourite of ours for its colour changing flowers. Others include ‘Sneezy‘ and ‘Dopey‘.

Deciduous Azaleas
Deciduous, because unlike most rhododendrons, they drop their leaves in the winter, often after a fiery autumn display of red, orange or yellow foliage. Flowers can range from bold shades of pink and red such as ‘Homebush’ and ‘Nabucco‘, to the softer yellows, oranges and purple of varieties such as ‘Luteum’. They grow best in a fairly sunny spot and are tough and fast growing and many of them are scented.

Evergreen Species
These are true Rhododendrons that give year-round structural interest and a ‘WOW’ factor to your garden. We love Rhododendron ‘Marcel Menard‘, ‘Nova Zembla’, and ‘Lord Roberts‘.

Few shrubs are as anticipated in the spring as Azaleas and Rhododendrons, they have a way of taking centre stage in just about any garden, click here to shop Rhododendrons and Azaleas online.

Care Tips

Both Rhododendrons and Azaleas require the same conditions and treatment for healthy growth – a light dappled shade and sheltered location with well-drained acidic soil that must be kept well-watered. Rhododendrons don’t require much pruning, only to remove dead wood and deadheading of faded flowers.

We recommend planting in Coolings Ericaceous Compost and feeding with Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Plant Food.