Azaleas provide a big display

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34129, 15 April 1976, Page 10

Azaleas provide a big display

Azaleas are not among the most handsome of plants such but for two or three weeks, sometimes a little longer, in the springtime they undergo a transformation.

During this period they are in their prime of beauty with their massed display of bloom providing much colour and always sure to draw attention.

For long a major attraction m the old gardens of China, India and Japan their ■widesnread introduction throughout the world has rapidly led to hybridisation and the wealth of colourful bloom and variety of flower available today. Botanicallv. azaleas are classified under rhododendrons and correctly speaking should be known as such but it seems doubtful whether this ruling will ever be greatly observed particularly in the field. The number of stamens, five for azaleas and 10 for rhododendrons is given as former distinguishing feature between them.

Azaleas are generally not difficult to grow satisfactorily. They do. however, respond to a cool moist root run which is at least semishaded and lime free. An occasional mulch with, a litter of leaf mould or other decomposed organic matter is beneficial. Being surface rooting they are resentful of deep cultivation inj close proximity of their base: and also can suffer from the; nearness of strong growing plants very close by. Annual pruning is not at all necessary but where time, and perseverance permits removal of spent flower heads; immediately after they have faded is beneficial. Where; plants have become very leggy they can be cut down almon to ground level inti order to rejuvenate them. ' This procedure is best! cam d out in early spring, just as the new growth is; abe it tc commence. Plants of any size and age can be transplanted without; much problem at almost anytime of the year. However, the situation of the proposed; site t.nd prevailing weather: conditions should be considered b< forehand if the move is to be made other than in spring and autumn. There are no real cultural, problems associated with; azalea growing. Leaf roller caterpillar can be troublesome and at times also: mites may need controlling. I Carbaryl and kelthane re-; spectively provide the widely used thcrapeutants for the purpose. Azaleas, unlike many! other plants, are relatively! free frorr. the ravages of dis-1 ease. Occasionally, however,' an outbreak of azalea gall cause alarm. This disease is not unlike! the very familiar symptoms; displayed by peach leaf curl. There are two courses ofj control; one is to pick off and bum all diseased leaves and the other is to apply! Bordeaux mixture as the; leaves open. The application should be of weaker than normal strength —11.4 g copper sul-j phate (bluestone) plus 5.7 g hvdrated lime to every litre of water. There are quite a few! species of azaleas but generally the popular method seems to ignore this particu-: lar distinction for average gardening purposes and it* appears sufficient to classify! them broadly under de-, ciduo-.'s and evergreen des-i criptions. !

The “gumpo” azaleas are; I the smallest of the ever-j green azaleas. These may at-r tain a height of 40cm and : usually form a compact; , mound of short branches; densely covered with small; bright green leaves. The=r floriferous nature ofl comparatively large blooms, rivals that of any other, .azaleas but as yet the range; | of colours freely available is! : rather limited. ! Azalea indica and A. ku- ! rume and their cultivars form much larger ever-; greens, up to and more than; one metre high. These I azaleas provide a very much' ■more extensive selection as well, including not only a wide variety of colours and shades to choose from but also single, semi-double andj fully double flowered forms as well as smooth and frill l; petaled flowers. •i The indicas include the ’sever popular “cocade” i (single red flowers) and (salmon coloured) “salm-:

onea” and the newer “gretel,” a petunia-like doubleflowered white and pink subject. The kurume or Japanese ■ azaleas are considered har-| dier than the indicas and al-, though they bear smaller flowe-s they are possibly somewhat more free flowering. “Amoenum” (double purplish) “Addy Wery” (double orange and red) “Hinodegin” (crimson) and “Orange Prince” (orange and red) are but some good choices which have also recently been supplemented by new releases. The deciduous azaleas include the well known mollis and occidentalis varieties and these mostly develop; into very large bushes or .small trees in excess of two metres. Also included in this ex-; {tensive range of azaleas are; the very well known Ham hybrids which were in-' troduced to the world by the late Mr Edgar Stead of Christchurch.