Rhodi flowers are more bell shaped. Opening from pink buds in late spring to early summer, the highly fragrant blossoms contrast beautifully with the handsome foliage of bluish-green leaves. Both plants grow more easily in Mediterranean countries rather than in places like England or Germany. Scythe Vs. Weed Wacker – What Are The Differences? The best seasons for planting are in the spring or the fall. These plants are technically a sub-species of the genus Rhododendron and are native to tropical areas in Southeast Asia. On Page 2 we’ll explore the difference between azaleas and rhododendrons. To begin, one … Classified into the same genus, Rhododendron, and with very similar flowering and growing habits, it's easy to say that it was some sort of confusion between common name and … Gardeners Yards is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. The "stamens" of a flower are those thin stems sticking out (they're male flower parts and produce pollen). Azaleas have smaller flowers and leaves compared to rhododendrons. A: An excellent question! The evergreen foliage of elliptic, glossy, thick and dark green leaves does not develop any appreciable fall color. Starting with the leaves azaleas, unlike Rhododendrons whose leaves are thick and leathery, have thin, soft, and sometimes hairy leaves. This harks back to the original meaning of both azaleas and rhododendrons of low-growing rose. . the flowers are very gorgeous. The Difference Between Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Azaleas are really rhododendrons. Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food. Rich of a delightful fragrance, Rhododendron 'Daviesii' is a beautiful, compact, deciduous azalea producing elegant, funnel-shaped, creamy-white flowers with a yellow flare. While the larger ones are mostly evergreen some of the species are deciduous and in some cases, rhododendrons can have both types of leaves on one trunk. height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. All azaleas are in the genus Rhododendron, which are in the Ericaceae or Heath family, but azaleas belong to different subgenera such as Pentanthera (deciduous azaleas) and Tsustusti (mostly evergreen azaleas). Azaleas bushes are members of the Rhododendron family. While pruning you have to be careful because these shrubs make their blooms in the prior year’s branches. Its deciduous foliage of ovate to elliptic mid-green, softly hairy leaves, sometimes turns a muted yellow in fall. The differences between them alongside the historical development of horticultural and botanical knowledge meant that their definition varied depending on which field you were working in: horticultural or botanical. The Azalea genus became more specific in 1753 when Linneas added 6 species to it including evergreen and deciduous azaleas. Green Giant vs. Emerald Green Arborvitae - Differences. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas. To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of our site. There are over 850 species in the rhododendron genus, which are divided into three large groups: In this sense, the official species classification that separates deciduous azaleas from rhododendrons is less accurate and could be changed. 5) Azalea flowers have mostly 5 stamens. Regardless of whether you choose to plant an azalea or a rhododendron, the bright spring colors that last into the summer are sure to please and dazzle. Oct 28, 2016 - At first glance, rhododendrons and azaleas seem to be nearly the same plant. This may have been the result of the larger amount of rhododendron species over those in the azaleas. The problem lies in the very large and diverse group of rhododendrons more than in the fairly homogenous azalea group. Oct 28, 2016 - At first glance, rhododendrons and azaleas seem to be nearly the same plant. Growing rhododendrons. If your preferred size is out of stock, click "email me when in stock" to be notified as soon as it becomes available. Gardeners and nurseries continue, however, to make the distinction, referring to each by their common name. The evergreen foliage of long, glossy, olive to dark green leaves does not develop any appreciable fall color and curls up tight when the winter temperatures drop. Azaleas are beloved shrubbery because they are easy to plant and maintain. Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and rhododendron are both members of the heath family (Ericaceae.) However, plants do not fit neatly into man-made boundaries. Q: What is the difference between Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron fertilizer (34-10-10) and Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron fertilizer (4-3-4)? But what is the difference between Azaleas and Rhododendrons? Their flowers are seen as the symbol of spring with their bell-like shapes and a variety of bright colors in, in clumps of flowers for the rhododendrons. Top picture is courtesy of the Willow Garden. Rhododendron flammeum has a flower consisting of 5 lobes and 5 stamens, whilst Rhododendron canadense is an azalea with 10 stamens. Superficial roots are something azaleas and rhododendrons share for this reason when planting them never plant then deeper than they were originally planted when bought from a nursery. To distinguish between the two, it is much easier to look at the flower. The Williams rhododenron (Rhododendron williamsianum), for example, is hardy only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9, while the pinkshell azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi) is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 7, and the swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum) is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Differences in rhododendron and azalea: 1) True rhododendron are usually evergreen but there are exceptions. The best seasons for planting are in the spring or the fall. Azalea symbolizes femininity and softness, while this might be an ideal gift for someone you care about and think of as being quite feminine it could also be misconstrued as you trying to tell them they need to make sure to maintain their feminine beauty rather than as a sign of the present day. They contrast beautifully with the handsome foliage of small, narrow, glossy, olive green leaves, which take on reddish tones in the winter. Feeds, ironizes, and acidifies-+ Pairs Nicely With . One of the first and most beautiful spring-flowering native azaleas to bloom, Rhododendron vaseyi (Pink-Shell Azalea) is a deciduous, irregular rounded shrub which features trusses of 4 to 8 delicate pink to white, flat-faced flowers on leafless stems, with some prominent spotting in their throat. Some can survive arctic conditions and later in the year produce seeds for the summer. Learn More. A common question in the spring is what's the difference between a rhododendron and an azalea? Offering a ravishing display in mid to late spring, Rhododendron 'Nestucca' is a compact, evergreen shrub which produces incredibly beautiful domed-shaped clusters of 12 to 15 flowers. You need to prune right above the growth joints of the large leaves characteristic of the rhododendron. Their current classification means that all azaleas are rhododendrons not all rhododendrons are azaleas. Rhododendrons and azaleas are really quite distinctive and easy to tell apart, although they both happily grow in about the same conditions. Another key different between azaleas and other plants which share their genus is that the azalea has deciduous leaves, while other rhododendrons or “rhodies” are … wide (12 cm), is elegantly frilled and lightly spotted with brown in the throat. The Corolla is in the shape of a wide funnel. Roughly 28,000 different cultivars exist today -- the result of breeding and selection. The best time for pruning is right after they have finished blooming. Noted for its fragrant, spring blossoms and lovely fall color, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, commonly known as Royal Azalea, is an upright, rounded, deciduous Azalea with four seasons of interest. 4) Azalea are mostly decidous. The flowers are the most distinguishing factor with azalea flowers usually being one stem flowers and counting with at most 5 or 6 stamens. Features. Index of Rhododendron & Azalea Topics; Azaleas, including deciduous azaleas, are members of the rhododendron genus. In general, rhododendrons are larger shrubs than are azalea plants, and, as just said, they have larger leaves. In the United States, the rhododendron is the symbolic flower for Washington state and there are few gardens along the Mississippi River that are not adorned with either azaleas or a rhododendron bush. I do know that all azaleas are part of the rhododendron family. Azaleas are part of the genus Rhododendron but they are different enough from other species within the genus to divided into a sub-grouping. Slightly fragrant, they blanket this midseason Knaphill hybrid in an exc… Botanists like Linneaus created the concepts of genus and species to help people understand plant life. 3) True rhododendron … Difference between Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Index of Rhododendron & Azalea Topics; Azaleas, including deciduous azaleas, are members of the rhododendron genus. Finally, unlike rhododendrons, many azalea plants are deciduous. 4.7 14. Rhododendrons produce large, bell-shaped flowers in clusters whilst azaleas blooms are smaller and either tubular or funnel-shaped. Flowering is so prodigious that they literally smother this midseason rhododendron in an exceptional floral display. 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