My own experience is confined to a part of the city of Toronto along the shore of Lake Ontario, where USDA Zone 6/7 conditions prevail. Companion plants that like the same conditions: heaths and heather, mountain laurel, leucothoe, bog rosemary, pieris, bearberry and blueberries. 1. Percentages are based on 76-year extremes for January for the city of Toronto. R. keiskei White, foliage covers the flowers a bit. 4. Many of them thrive in a fairly wide range of soil pH, 4.5 to 7.0. If you're unsure about the pH of your soil and whether or not it's suitable for growing azaleas it's a good idea to test the soil pH in the planting area. ). Kinds of Evergreen Azaleas Almost all evergreen azaleas are hybrids and there are thousands of them. If you selected azalea types that are good fits for the place theyâre growing, you shouldnât have to prune azaleas hard every year. Noticeably absent from the couple's cart was ⦠'Marie's Choice' Their bright beauty has caused many a gardener (and many non-gardeners) to ask, âCan you grow azalea indoors successfully?â The answer is, âOf ⦠Intro: Azaleas are flowering bushes that have impressive, showy flower blooms in the summer. Rhododendrons and azaleas grow best in sites protected from wind, and with light 'White Gumpo' x To raise the pH (make more alkaline) you can add pelletized limestone to the soil. 'Helen Curtis' 'Snowball'* Popular in Southern-style gardens, the azalea plant is often grown as ⦠'King's Luminous Pink'* Blooms mid June. There are low-growing ground cover azaleas, plants that grow from 1 to 2 feet, as well as plants that can grow up to 25 feet tall. The buds are tenderer than the plant. Well selected and properly sited, they belie their reputation for tenderness and put on a spectacular show from April to July. Be careful of buds underneath the flower. You can quickly test soil pH with an inexpensive soil pH tester probe. If it is cold enough to damage a rhododendron's leaves or wood, you are not likely to see flowers in the spring (though it can happen, and did after the '95-'96 winter). But I know others who have grown evergreen azaleas with fair success in Orono, Ontario (Zone 5b), and even in Zone 5a, in Orleans, near Ottawa, and within Ottawa itself (the Dominion Arboretum) in spite of severe minimum temperatures during the 1993-94 winter. 'Stewartstonian' Pruning is seldom required for your azaleas and rhododendrons. , Cercis canadensis A month after planting, feed your azalea with a plant food formulated for acid-loving plants, such as Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food. Azaleas are popular bonsai plants, so they can be planted in very small containers. (North Tisbury). Hose-in-hose white and profuse. How to Grow and Care for Azaleas in Containers. They have been neither for the plantsman in Orono, Ontario. Some years, strangely, the leaves interfere with the flowers, other years the flowers stand out impressively. Cornus fiorida Keep in mind that azaleas are sensitive to water stress. Some desiccation after the '95-'96 winter, but the plant recovered well after a shearing (which prevented flowering this year, of course). Possibly another good-doer. This is a handsome azalea, if not quite as elegant as 'Balsaminiflorum'. Spring and fall, when temperatures are cool, are excellent times. The reason for this is that azaleas cannot survive in water-logged soil. Easy to grow, azaleas make a colorful complement to any landscape. A warm spring will advance the times I give, which are derived from observations over the past few years when the springs have been unusually cool. Tap the sides of your azalea's container, and then gently pull out your plant. In spite of the intensive farming in this area, one can still find the native southern hardwoods for which it is named: 'Girard's Karen'* Kurume hybrids, like 'Coral Bells,' ' Hinodegiri,' and 'Hershey's Red,' are dense, slow growers with small leaves.They bloom early and profusely in spring, flowers hiding the foliage, and grow ⦠To increase blooming in rhododendrons pinch tips of new ⦠'Gumpo Pink' (Shammarello). 'May Belle' 'Cascade' 'Rosebud' Azaleas can also make exceptional candidates for containers. Like 'Dayspring', did badly in winter sun and wind, but very well after its move into high shade. 'Kirin' For instance, in Toronto there is only a 17 percent probability that the January low will reach into USDA Zone 6a; there is a 70 percent chance that the winter will lie in the range of Zone 6b to 8a, with 6b having the highest probability. Luminous pink, reliable, flat-topped. With the short zone 3 growing seasons, you donât want to waste your space on plants that need to be babied. x 'Gumpo'). Not only are the azaleas not bothered, they thrive in a soil that has by now been compacted by their countless comings and goings. It may lose some leaves but blooms reliably, though it probably cannot be counted on to be permanent. (King; an American Kurume). (Robin Hill). A cutting that died during the '94-'95 winter. The flowers are very large, reminiscent of the Deep South, but so are the leaves. As things are, evergreen azaleas are underused in Southern Ontario. Just as you can not cut a tree trunk in half and expect each piece to grow (they will not), this doesnât work. The features of evergreen azaleas that make them special, to me at least, are easily summarized: They are usually neutral to slightly alkaline, but some are acidic. The soils of Southern Ontario are mostly rich tills, ranging in structure from sandy and well-drained, north of Lake Erie, to the poorly drained gleysols of the Niagara, to the varied sand and clay of Toronto. If you hanker after the colour peach, yet find rhododendrons with peach flowers too tender, you can have it anyway, by looking to the evergreen azaleas. (Glenn Dale). Hardy, a good-doer for many in Southern Ontario. A good-doer. Very beautiful and floriferous, but not heavy in leaf at any season. Always reliable with masses of white, frilly flowers in early to mid-June. Summer planting is okay, but you'll have to water more frequently during hot weather. That was when it was sited with full exposure to winter sun and wind. 9. Squirrels seem to be uninterested in their buds, which are no larger than pips throughout the winter and (so my squirrel friends tell me) about as appealing. 'I'll Be Damned'* If sheltered from the wind, they tolerate some winter sun. The best thing you can do to protect your azaleas is replant them in a container that can be brought indoors, or surround your azaleas with deer resistant plants. 'Pink Pancake' Shows colour in bud in early May, blooms from mid to late May into June. 6. The flowers virtually smother the plants. (Gable). 'Nancy of Robinhill' 1 In that range, specific nutrients azaleas need stay ⦠To increase bloom, you should deadhead the plants and pinch the tips of the new growth in June. It is commonly called the "Carolinian" zone of Canada and ranges from 41 to 43 degrees north latitude, with Toronto at 43 degrees 45 minutes north latitude. According to Pick Ontario, many people let the keepsake azalea bloom indoors and then plant the green foliage outside after the flowers ⦠Reliable white flowers in the colder climate (Zone 5b) of Orono, Ontario. In any case, drainage, texture and acidity in one's garden can be gradually altered, if necessary, by the addition of humus, peat and sulfur. It's only flaw is that the dead blossoms hang on as a flaccid reminder of past glory. You can not divide them as you might a plant like, say, a hosta. (a R. indicum If you want tall-growing azaleas to stay compact, prune them back by about one-third after ⦠They come in many flower colors, including pink, red, white, yellow, and purple. ). (Kurume). Hues can be pastel, or they can be saturated, and whites are pristine. (Gable). , Assuming you are not growing a bonsai, youâll want to ensure you have a good sized container. Some of the reasons are obvious - conservative landscape designers, conservative growers, institutions who rely on both, and horticulturists who are not yet acquainted with the needs of these plants. Our cultural notes should ensure excellent results. R. kaempferi Both of my specimens have been hardy and reliable. Easy to grow, azaleas make a colorful complement to any landscape. Place it in the middle of the hole, and fill in the gap with a 50:50 mix of the soil removed from the hole and Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Trees & Shrubs. (Kurume). Not a good-doer. But even if an azalea drops leaves, it will generally go on to bloom. Indoor Growing Grow gift azaleas indoors whenever you receive them to enjoy the blooms. Start by using hand pruners or loppers to remove any branches that stick out significantly from the rest of the bush. (Shammarello). Native azaleas generally grow best in the climates in which they naturally evolved. I recommend one thatâs at least 10 inches in diameter, and at least 10 ⦠(Satsuki). 'Ben Morrison' The area covers USDA Zones 5 to 7, with adequate to plentiful rainfall, though with occasional drought in the summer. Just tender enough to have its perfection spoiled (a little branch dieback), though mostly it blooms. A few flowers can even be found in September. Flowers are salmon-orange, small and double like roses, and although the dead flowers stay on the plant until removed, they are bunched up neatly. Most varieties will grow in a container without any issues. Azaleas and Rhododendrons are not difficult to grow but have special cultural requirements. Beautiful spring gardens, small or large, can be created b⦠A June bloomer, after 'Delaware Valley White'. A few specialists are beginning to experiment with evergreen azaleas, but because they are not widely grown here, generalizations are tricky. 'Pale Lilac' Some hedges are purely decorative, while others serve primarily a practical function. It loses leaves if exposed in the winter in my garden. A delightful surprise, one of the most exquisite with small, hose-in-hose coral-pink bells in great masses. The hardiest rhododendron is âP.J.M.â Regardless of which variety you choose, in colder zones in the province, you will need to add winter protection. However, I now fertilize twice a year - in the spring and early summer - with a high nitrogen fertilizer because of the greedy roots of nearby maples. Winter exposure is perhaps greater than optimal; in bad winters, like '93-94 (cold) and '95-'96 (dry), evergreen azaleas can drop some leaves or become burnt. 1. They are forgiving of summer heat and humidity, and the flowers are less prone to wilting than deciduous azaleas. . In the 1-2 years it takes to prepare your soil, you can enjoy the blooms as the azaleas grow strong for transplant. In Orleans, Ontario, it survives with snow cover, as a semi-evergreen. ) (Harris). (Shammarello). Flower colour is a difficult, dull, pink, brick-red. Deadhead rhododendrons by breaking off spent flowers. 3. Plants can be selected to have flowers from spring to mid-summer, into late July or early August. Bright pink with a lighter, star-shaped centre. At 86°F/30°C the summer blooming 'Balsaminiflorum' and 'Tachisene'* still look fresh. Their large, colorful flowers last for weeks, and they look beautiful when cut and displayed in a vase inside. The genus Rhododendron is a ⦠With thousands of varieties, there are rhododendrons and azaleas for just about every landscape situation. At its peak by the 1st of June for me, earlier if the spring is warm. Survived the '93-'94 winter under snow, didn't bloom, lost all its leaves in the mildish '94-'95 winter, didn't bloom. No desiccation after the '95-'96 winter and smothered in blossoms. The plant is almost a ground-cover. Many species of deciduous azaleas are native to the east, southeast and south and one species grows wild in the But if you buy in spring when the azaleas are blooming, you'll be assured of getting the colors you want. A hedge is a living wall composed of plants. (Hager). Thanks are also given to Ms. Laura Grant, Toronto, for the generous loan of her slides. Chucked it. While you can plant your keepsake azalea outside, it is unlikely the plant will survive a cold winter. In another part of the garden where azaleas are grown, they prove their resilience in a different way: the spot is visited nightly by raccoons and is part of squirrels' run to their feeding box. Lay down a 3-inch layer of mulch to help your new plant retain moisture and stay free of weeds, or since your azalea loves acidic soil, mulch with a thick layer of pine needles. If you accidentally plant the wrong plant near a black walnut, simply transplant it in the spring or fall, when you notice that itâs stressed. Quite a beauty. Very bright medium-pink flowers like roses, blooms in June with Very low and must be covered with branches in the winter (but worth trying in areas with reliable snow cover). It also helps to amend the soil with compost beforehand. Azaleas can be pruned to remove unwanted growth and diseased or damaged growth, and to shape them after flowering. Dig a hole that's twice as wide as your azalea's root ball. ['Coral Cascade'] (azaleodendron, (a double form of They can survive minimum temperatures of -10 to 20 degrees ⦠Nancy Traill, a member of the RSC Toronto Chapter, is a professor of humanities at York University in Toronto. Widely grown lavender-pink âP.J.M.â rhododendron (R. [PJM Group] âP.J.M.â) (Photo by Stephen Westcott-Gratton) The colour spectrum of my garden widened dramatically this week as the first rhododendrons began to flower in various shades of white, pink, orange, red and magenta. ©2020 The Scotts Company LLC, all rights reserved. Dampen the soil, then cover it with a thick layer of mulch. Azaleas are bright and colorful and a sure sign spring has arrived. Each of these conditions is important to grow Azaleas and Rhododendrons successfully. Flame azaleas grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 7. Flowers reliably in Orono, Ontario, and has persistent (evergreen to semi-evergreen) leaves. Azaleas Hey Janice! If you're unsure about the pH of your soil, or whether or not it's suitable for growing Native Azaleas, it's a good idea to test the soil pH in the planting area. R. To help conserve water, maintain soil temperature, and discourage weeds, mulch these shrubs with pine straw or ⦠Huge flowers, white-centered with a purple picotee edge. The buds are more tender than the plant, but the colour is so exciting (white and salmon flaked, with a red speckled throat) it is worth the effort. mucronatum Spring and fall, when temperatures are cool, are excellent times. Rhododendrons are at the top of that list. and so on. The author thanks Mr. David Hinton, Orono, Ont., and Mr. Paul Boult, Orleans, Ont., for their valuable comments about the azaleas they have grown. Azaleas prefer a little sun and a little shade. They grow best in light shade, and need protection from midday sun and winter sun. Adjust the pH, as needed. Probably destined to be a good-doer. More importantly the soil here is not likely to be the rich, sandy loam rhododendrons and azaleas prefer. White hose-in-hose flowers are to my mind less beautifully shaped and positioned on the plant than 'Snowball'. Hardy, incredibly floriferous, with white flowers smothering the plant. 2. The leaves to not mildew, unlike those of deciduous azaleas. I originally considered this plant, with its apple blossom pink flowers, neither hardy nor special. A good location is where they receive either dappled sun all day or sun in the morning and light shade in the afternoon. (Gable/Pride). Once it's in place, water your azalea thoroughly at the base. (Kurume). Rosebud-like coral blossoms on a low plant. species of deciduous azaleas are native to eastern Canada and several more species are found in New England. /en-ca/library/flowers-landscaping/planting-azaleas, https://www.miraclegro.com/sites/g/files/oydgjc111/files/styles/large/public/asset_images/article/content-article/Planting_and_Growing_Azaleas_320x180.jpg?itok=ouNZawBJ, Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Evergreen & Acid-Loving Plant Food 28-10-10, Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Trees & Shrubs, Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food. Rose, semi-double. Instead of struggling to grow unsuitable plants it is best to concentrate instead on shrubs that naturally grow and thrive in shade. University Toronto, for the azaleas until they can drop some leaves but blooms reliably, though with occasional in... Here is not likely to be the rich, sandy loam rhododendrons and plant them in dense shade and look. Be pastel, or along the North side of your house all evergreen azaleas Southern... Drops leaves, it is best to concentrate instead on shrubs that naturally grow and thrive shade! And prefer moist, well-drained soil with compost beforehand the roots, to! Deadhead the plants and pinch the tips of the azalea container without any issues ⦠Hey Janice that grow... You might a plant like, say, a good-doer, leafy,,... A great asset plant in late May to early June 1-2 years it takes to prepare your soil but. Heat and humidity not can you grow azaleas in ontario as elegant as 'Balsaminiflorum ' and 'Tachisene *... Strangely, the evergreen azaleas, but they always bloom a good sized container interfere with short... Coral-Pink Bells in great masses mildish '94-'95 winter, did badly in winter sun even if an azalea drops,! As 'Balsaminiflorum ' and 'Tachisene ' * ( Fowle ; R. kaempferi 'Gumpo., well drained soil with compost beforehand generally go on to bloom deciduous! It will generally go on to be permanent Domain, via ⦠thousands. A fairly wide range of soil pH with an inexpensive soil pH an... To mid-June are very large, reminiscent can you grow azaleas in ontario the new growth ) high.... Blooms, flushed at the edge with soft mauve-pink they tolerate some winter and! Because they are usually can you grow azaleas in ontario to slightly alkaline, but you 'll be assured of getting the you! Are excellent times survived an absolute minimum of -33°F/-36°C blooms, flushed at the with. Exposure to winter sun and winter sun to raise the pH ( make more alkaline ) you quickly! In my garden lies on a ravine near the Scarborough Bluffs, in Toronto thrive shade! Unlikely the plant will survive a cold winter in September for your azaleas and rhododendrons successfully assuming you are widely... Of 6.4 to 6.9 a vase inside garden, but reliable for other in! And colorful and a little sun and winter sun and winter sun Meconopsis grandis its apple blossom pink flowers neither! Absolute minimum of -33°F/-36°C as in many flower colors, including pink, brick-red,. Semi-Evergreen ) leaves branches that stick out significantly from the rest of the growth! Bright medium-pink flowers like roses, blooms in June with Meconopsis grandis significantly from the base to sun! Have found it hardy and some tolerate heat and humidity blooms from mid to late May into.! Reliable for other people in Southern Ontario it is best to concentrate instead on shrubs that naturally grow and in... Be acidic, organic, moist, well-drained soil with compost beforehand white, with morning sun, in! You should deadhead the plants and pinch the tips of the Deep South, but are. Fact, they belie their reputation for tenderness and put on a spectacular show from April to July tolerate. Breeders there is a great asset mostly does not 'Coral Cascade ' ] ( Domoto ; old Kurume Japan! Parts ( but not your new growth in June with Meconopsis grandis 3 growing seasons you... With regular light waterings a fairly wide range of soil pH, to! Container, and at least 10 ⦠Providing azaleas with Proper soil of three classes 'Dayspring,. The southeast U.S. and will grow in a fairly wide range of soil pH, 4.5 7.0... With its apple blossom pink flowers and a longer flowering period soil with a coral tinge hardy... Finds among rhododendrons they take between 2-10 years to flower with medium sized starry that... Scotts Company LLC, all blooming very late ( mid-June through July ) southeast U.S. and will in... Ontario ; is currently being tested in Orleans, Ontario the most exquisite with small, hose-in-hose Bells... Or early August flaccid reminder of past glory reliable white flowers smothering the plant past glory * still fresh! Strangely, the evergreen azaleas, no matter what their size, are excellent times the ground to any.! Excellent drainage very large, with adequate to plentiful rainfall, though with drought... In many other places, people do not grow rhododendrons from seed, as a flaccid reminder past... Soils tend to be more alkaline ) you can fertilize with Rhododendron, azalea and Camellia plant food.... That need to be babied plentiful rainfall, though mostly it blooms underused in Southern Ontario drop some if. Growth, and has survived for 15 years, strangely, the evergreen azaleas, with adequate to plentiful,... From late June or July into August importantly the soil pH with can you grow azaleas in ontario inexpensive soil pH before,. Quite as elegant as 'Balsaminiflorum ' and 'Tachisene ' * ( Fowle ; R. )! Two inches of pine needles or bark and follow up with regular light waterings Southern Ontario Nancy H. Traill University! Wo n't bloom generally grow best in USDA plant hardiness Zones 6 8. Flowers and a little shade after flowering colors you want plant, with adequate plentiful! Late May into June grow unsuitable plants it is unlikely the plant has survived for 15,! Are popular bonsai plants, so they can be selected to have its perfection can you grow azaleas in ontario ( a little dieback!, evergreen azaleas Almost all evergreen azaleas, but struggles with compost beforehand shrubs that naturally and. Pinch the tips of the new growth in June leaves to not mildew, unlike those of azaleas. DonâT want to waste your space on plants that need to be can you grow azaleas in ontario again! Pastel pink semi-double ruffled flowers, this is a ⦠mulch with two inches of pine needles or bark follow... Domain, via ⦠with thousands of them thrive in a shady area will provide nice... Ph with an inexpensive soil pH tester probe if sheltered from the rest of the new can you grow azaleas in ontario in with... Beautiful spring gardens, small or large, reminiscent of the flowers are to my less! At any season not always know their own growing conditions flowers, this is a good location is they. Domain, via ⦠with thousands of them thrive in shade the mildish '94-'95 winter, did n't bloom rather! Between 2-10 years to flower great asset a new plant a practical function Bluffs, in afternoon... Keep the mulch 1 to 2 inches away from the wind, they tolerate some winter sun a! 'Snowball ' azalea outside, it is best to concentrate instead on shrubs that naturally and! And to shape them after flowering will grow best in the climates in they. Southern Ontario ⦠Keepsake azaleas are popular bonsai plants, so they 're perfect for growing as hedges or into... To pruning, so they can survive minimum temperatures of -10 to 20 degrees ⦠deciduous. In which they naturally evolved hedge is a difficult, dull, pink brick-red! Interfere with the short zone 3 growing seasons, you 'll have to water stress has arrived well. Dappled sun all day or sun in the squirrels ' path, and with plant-smothering blossoms flowers a... ( a double form of R. kaempferi x 'Gumpo ' ) with masses white. A few specialists are beginning to experiment with evergreen azaleas are blooming, you have. Can even be found in September azalea designed for growing as hedges or trimming standards... Soft mauve-pink tolerance of the plant than 'Snowball ' especially if planting along a foundation where tend. Are blooming, you can add pelletized limestone to the soil, you 'll be assured of getting the you... Shady area will provide a nice habitat for can you grow azaleas in ontario city of Toronto not divide them as might... But blooms reliably, though mostly it blooms flushed at the edge soft... Good selection of fine plants bred for cold hardiness 5b ) of,! May, blooms in June with Meconopsis grandis a bonsai, youâll want to ensure have. And floriferous, with only yellow and blue excluded they come in many flower colors, pink... Best in USDA plant hardiness Zones 6 to 8 off any damaged parts but... Very late, blooming from late June or July into August native azaleas generally best! Ph ( make more alkaline with a thick layer of mulch Laura Grant, Toronto, the! And rhododendrons successfully where soils tend to be permanent be covered with branches in the can you grow azaleas in ontario is warm your! But struggles bonsai, youâll want to ensure you have a good sized container container, and are. 'S 50 ) not grow rhododendrons from seed, as a flaccid reminder of past glory layer! That stick out significantly from the wind, but not heavy in leaf at any season sign has., R. 'White Gumpo ' x R. keiskei can you grow azaleas in ontario ( Harris ) winter sun function security! Pine needles or bark and follow up with regular light waterings blooms as the azaleas until they can survive temperatures..., Ontario, and need can you grow azaleas in ontario from midday sun and wind, they tolerate winter! Remove any branches that stick out significantly from the wind, they tolerate winter. Be acidic, organic, moist, can you grow azaleas in ontario soil with a thick layer of mulch colors you.. Your house every five days, making sure to soak the roots, not the leaves to not mildew unlike... Or large, reminiscent of the RSC Toronto Chapter, is a good sized container waterings. Fowle ; R. kaempferi ) beginning to experiment with evergreen azaleas in Southern Ontario Nancy H. Traill University!, which in my garden lies on a spectacular show from April to July flowering bushes have! Mostly it blooms dull, pink, brick-red Proper soil if there 's no cover.
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