When with child shrubs just are n’t the correct fit for a foundation planting or other landscape design program , dwarf evergreen azalea may be the perfect option . Not only do these plants keep a healthy shape and retain their leaves class around , they bid the added welfare of bloom that bloom in spring and add early - time of year pops of colouring material .
It ’s significant to take down that " dwarf " does n’t mean teeny - tiny . The matured height of gnome evergreen azalea shrubs typically is around 3 infantry , although it may take them 5 to 10 years to reach this size , depending on species .
Satsuki Dwarf Evergreen Azaleas
In Japanese , " Satsuki " translate to " fifth month , " a nod to when these dwarf evergreens burst into bloom in May . Here in the U.S. , the Satsuki azalea ( Rhododendron indicum , USDA zone 7 to 9 ) begins bloom in April across much of its hardiness chain of mountains , which is later by a twain of month than some other types of azalea .
Even though these evergreen plant azalea reach only 3 fundament tall and wide when fledged , the individual flowers may span 5 inches in diam . Unlike the flush on other character of azaleas , which erupt in a profuseness of bloom all at once , Satsuki azalea prime open a few at a time for an modal carry bloom period of eight week . Some shrub may preserve blooming for 14 calendar week , which is a singular feat for an azalea .
bloom color bet on cultivar , ranging from 3 - column inch diam flush on Gumpo Pink to 4- to 5 - inch violet - pinkish prime with purple blotches on Higasa . Other blossom colors include white-hot , violent and orange with some bloom sporting pattern that include stripes , speckles and contrast edges .
Kurume Dwarf Evergreen Azaleas
Kurume azaleas ( Rhododendron ponticum , zones 6 to 9 ) grow 3 to 4 feet tall , but their spread head is up to 5 ft . These evergreen shrubs flower a couple of hebdomad before Satsuki azalea , so you ’ll have an even longer bloom catamenia if you grow both coinage . You ’ll also be providing an early food generator for bee and other pollinators .
Two celebrated Kurume cultivars are Hinode Giri ( purplish - red flower ) and Hino Crimson ( bright - reddish heyday ) , which blooms originally than other cultivar . Although Hinode Giri ’s leaves are evergreen , they may twist wine - bolshy in drop . Hino Crimson ’s evergreen leaves may turn bronze in winter , and its tiered branches sum up architectural pastime to the garden .
Hybrid Dwarf Evergreen Azaleas
One type of dwarf evergreen azalea is the result of deliberately breeding different industrial plant in variousRhododendronsubgenera , result in hybrid plant life . Decoding the scientific discipline , the genusRhododendronincludes eight submarine - class called " subgenera , " which are also subdivided into legion categories . When plant breeders genetically cross azalea from different subgenera , the resulting plant , called intersubgenus hybrids , display qualities from their parent plants .
Some of these intersubgenus hybrid are call " azaleodendrons , " but there are very few of these type plants because of the difficulty in making successful hereditary hybridisation . One notable exception isRhododendron’Hardijzer Beauty , ' a midget evergreen plant shrub that grow only 3 foot improbable in 10 years . Individual purplish - pinkish flowers are small ( 1 - column inch diam ) , but the blooms are borne in clump of two to four peak . The crimson - tinged immature leaves may take on a purplish cast in winter .
Planting and Growing Dwarf Azaleas
Planting and grow dwarf evergreen azalea adopt the same cultural guidelines as other character of azalea . A location with morning time Dominicus and some afternoon shade , organically rich acidic soil that ’s moist but has superior drainage , light applications of fertilizer in bound and little to no pruning are the optimal conditions for these plants .
Because they ’re much smaller than other azalea , gnome evergreen azaleas are suited to growing in container . They ’ll overwinter alfresco in their pots , but only dependably so in a geographical zone that ’s two zones warmer than their coldest hardiness geographical zone . In other words , if a plant life is inhuman hardy to zone 6 ( in - land ) , it ’s only unfearing to zone 8 in a container .
