All Roads Lead to Rhododendron
We’ve made it to azalea season! With spring fully underway, the nursery is bustling with pops of color appearing everywhere from the canopies to the understories, killdeer frantically attempting to make gravel nests along the edges of the newly plastic-less production houses, and the fluctuating warm and cold weather that seems to be keeping us on our toes constantly. As deciduous trees and shrubs unfurl leaf buds and evergreen plants start to push new growth, amongst them are some of the most notorious and recognizable species to even the greenest of plant novices. The Rhododendron genus is comprised of true rhododendrons, or “rhodies” as we’ll affectionately call them going forward, as well as the azalea group which share a genera name and some physiological attributes with true rhodies but for all intents and purposes are completely different plants. In fact, deciduous azaleas are actually a subgenus of rhododendron, which means that all azaleas are rhododendrons, but all rhododendrons are not azaleas – kind of like how a square is a type of rectangle, but rectangles are not considered squares. You get it.
Members of the Rhododendron genus can be found across the world, although approximately 90% of the 1,000+ species are native to the Asian continent. Of that 90%, a vast majority of those species are evergreen – interestingly, deciduous azaleas are found primarily in eastern North America, and most often in the cool, mesic areas of our woodlands. We could spend approximately the next several years writing about the nuances and intricacies of Rhododendron species, their cultivation and physiological traits – instead, we’re going with the VERY abridged version.
So, what differentiates one from the other? Out in the world, how are you going to be able to tell them apart without a nursery tag or specimen label? We’re gonna break it down for you in a helpful chart for your reference so that you never have to second guess your Rhododendron knowledge again.
Despite their widespread nature and morphological differences, all true rhodies and azaleas prefer and thrive in partial shade conditions due to their normal understory habitat. This makes them ideal companions for the woodland or shade gardens, although their versatility makes them suitable for nearly every type of landscape due to the extensive and selective breeding of various Rhododendron species resulting in a vast array of interspecific hybrids. Within this group of interspecific hybrids, the typical habits and forms of their genetic predecessors are stretched to their limits – there are roundy-moundy hybrids, sun and heat tolerant ones, hybrids with hyper-extended bloom times complete with the pinkest pinks, the brightest oranges, and the deepest purples on large, fluffy flowerheads.
Whether you’re looking for an evergreen or deciduous azalea, evergreen rhododendron, a North American native or an Asian ornamental, an early bloomer or late spring/early summer bloomer, a specific mature height or flower color, a sunny foundation shrub or a dutiful understory specimen, there’s a Rhododendron for everyone.
Check out our current lineup of rhodies and azaleas before they’re gone!
SHOP OUR RHODODENDRONS & AZALEAS HERE
The Beauty and Benefits of Native Rhododendrons | The Plant Native
commonproblemsofrhododendronandazalea031111rpdf.pdf (se-ars.org)
Mt. Cuba Center | Pinxterbloom Azalea - Mt. Cuba Center (mtcubacenter.org)
Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense - Plant Finder (missouribotanicalgarden.org)
Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense 'Compacta' | Chicago Botanic Garden
Hino-Crimson Azalea, Azalea x 'Hino-Crimson' (Kurume hybrid) (monrovia.com)
Species Rhododendron Plant Description
Azaleas and Rhododendrons: What is the Difference? (gardenia.net)
Azalea vs. Rhododendron: How to Tell the Difference (thespruce.com)
See all our Woody Ornamentals