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Probably the most rewarding of all flowering shrubs

© John Bottomley

Azaleas, for months every year, paint exquisite pictures in glowing purples, the gentlest of reds, pinks, whites, and two-colours. They can also be either single, double or anemone centred in their form.

They are a favourite of my wife and that is probably why we have an abundance of them scattered all over our half acre block, and in a variety of colours and forms. There are some around the side of the house where the big trees are, and have been there for many years. Here they get planty of shade. Around the back of the house we are lucky that the shade lasts for most of the day, even during the hot summers, therefore we have an abundance of Azaleas in that part of the garden. some kind person, years ago, planted a row of eucalypts along the back edge of the block and it has provided us with adequate shade ever since we have lived here.

The varieties seen most often these days are the hybrids of a lot of species, mostly Azalea indica. The bushes grow up to about a metre in height although some of them can reach a metre and a half. They flower very heavily in the winter and in the spring. Botanically there is no such name and all the species are Rhododendrons. However, they are so well known, it is quite easy to use the term Azalea for this section of the Rhododendron family.

In this part of the Australian continent(the western side), where in the summer the temperature can reach 40 degrees Celsius for several days, often without warning, the Azalea must have a lot of care. Much mulching and watering are required. Azaleas will not survive in heavy shade and cold, therefore, the best place to plant them is along a fence or a wall, facing south to east and make sure that the tall trees make a shade from the hot sun of the middle of the day. Do not plant them too close to trees, root competition might stunt the growth of the Azaleas.

Azaleas need an acid soil with a pH reading of about 4.5-5.5. It is possible to buy reasonably priced kits for testing the soil and it is better to know accurately than to guess. You get a better class of plant that way. There are some ready mix azalea soils. But some people like to mix their own and a mixture of leaf mould, rotted animal manures and compost is quite adequate. It is not recommended to use chicken manure however, it is too strong. Plenty of mulch will help protect the plants and save water.

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