Botanic Beet: An Azalea for All

by Paul Stratton

Queen of the Shade, Roses for the Shade Garden, or just the most common name Azalea; however you refer to this stunning branch of the Rhododendron genus, it’s easy to say there is a taste for everyone. When you conjure a mental image of the azalea I’m positive that you imagine two possibilities: either a luscious Japanese garden that stretches for acres and is teeming with beautifully trimmed bonsai or a sprawling woodland garden mounded over with specimens reaching eight feet high. Both are relaxing pictures that take you on a journey to another world but did you know, with gardener friendly care and a schedule that’s easy to apply, you can have those same results for your back yard?

For over 500 years the Japanese have created a deeply entrenched love for the simple azalea which formed the foundation of the more then 10,000 cultivars, from 800 species, that we have today. The Rhododendron indica and it’s legion of family members is accredited to the artful Japanese gardeners of generations past but what few everyday gardeners realize is that we have native Azalea shrubs here in North America; specifically Rhododendron pentanthera. This subsection of the Rhododendron genus is found predominantly in the United States, but there is one species from Mexico and one other species from Canada. Although they still take nurturing, they are aptly suited for our climate and find Oklahoma to be a suitable place to live.

The pentanthera are the deciduous bunch of the group, which leads them to be bare of leaves in the winter, but for the gardener who is looking for a natural style or desires a native plant collection then this is the subspecies for you. The variety is so large that you can find one for just about any need. Something short? How about Rhododendron atlanticum, at two to five feet tall it will fit anywhere and be easy to keep in line. Do you have a shady spot that stays wet? Then I suggest you find some Rhododendron arborescens. Rhododendron calendulaceum is prized for its bright yellow, orange, and red flowers and Rhododendron viscosum is even indigenous to Oklahoma. The lists and names continue but suffice it to say, the options are boundless and only imagination holds you back. The Azalea offers so many years of joy and is easy enough to propagate and care for that I know they would make a wonderful addition to your gardenscape.

With so many choices it is hard to find a starting point sometimes but thankfully we now have somewhere to go. If you are ever in need of information about care or selection feel free to contact the Tulsa Area Azalea Society and we would be more then happy to assist you.

Remember friends: life is a garden, dig it.