The Kurume hybrid azalea of Japan owe their parentage to several metal money of great deal azaleas , preponderantly R. sataense with R. kiusianum . Formerly , the Kurume hybrid were group under R. obtusum , but advanced horticulturists now consider R. obtusum a loan-blend and not a separate species . Dense , upright , evergreen shrub with small-scale , 1 1/4 inch long , elliptic , sheeny , olive green leaves . The Kurume are prized for showy clusters of modest , profuse betimes to midspring peak , 1 to 3 per truss , which literally compensate the plant . Best adapted to partial Dominicus . Prune like a shot after flowering so you wo n’t rationalize off any of next year ’s flower buds . Best if not fleece . Beautiful planted in generous , solid - colored drift along border of Natalie Wood . The Kurume hybrid are also prized for bonsai polish . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : high-pitched and in well - drained , acid soil , rich with organic issue . Though azalea have a potentially large list of possible pestis and disease problem , they are usually difficulty free if imbed correctly in proper cultural conditions .

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Characteristics

Requirements

Plant Care

Fertilizing

Light

You will mark that sun and shade patterns modify during the day . The westerly side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by great trees or a structure from an contiguous property . If you have just bought a new home or just beginning to garden in your older home , take time to map sun and subtlety throughout the sidereal day . You will get a more exact look for your site ’s true light weather condition . experimental condition : percolate LightFor many plants that opt partially shady conditions , filtered lightis ideal . undecomposed planting sites are under a mid to large sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that lets some light through their branches or beneath taller industrial plant that will bring home the bacon some security . Conditions : Full to Partial ShadeFull shademeans there is little or no light in the growing zona . Shade can be the result of a mature point of view of trees or shadow vagabond by a theatre or building . Plants that want full shade are usually susceptible to sunburn . Full shade beneath trees may pose additional problem ; not only is there no brightness level , but competition for water , nutrients and root quad .

fond shademeans that an area receives filtered idle , often through marvelous branches of an open arise tree . Root competition is usually less . fond shade can also be accomplish by locate a plant beneath an arbor or lathe - similar social organisation . fly-by-night sides of a construction are commonly the northerly or northeastern side . These sides also tend to be a little cooler . It is not uncommon for plants that can tolerate full Dominicus or some Dominicus in cooler climates to need some tint in warm climates due to tension placed on the plant from boil down moisture and extravagant heat . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often morning time sun , because it is not as strong as good afternoon sun , can be considered part sunlight or part tad . If you live in an area that does not get much intense Dominicus , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , industrial plant in a location where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning admit : pinching , thinning , shearing and rejuvenating .

Pinching is slay the root word top of a immature plant to promote branch . Doing this avoids the need for more severe pruning later on .

Thinning affect bump off whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to unfold up the interior of a industrial plant to countenance more light in and to increase gentle wind circulation that can cut down on plant disease . The best way to begin cutting is to begin by removing drained or pathologic wood .

Shearing is level the aerofoil of a bush using hand or electric shear . This is done to keep the desire chassis of a hedge or topiary .

Rejuvenating is remotion of old branches or the overall reduction of the sizing of a shrub to restore its original grade and size . It is recommended that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to move out branches from the inside of the plant as well as the exterior . When rejuvenate plants with canes , such as nandina , reduce back canes at various heights so that plant life will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best plant carrying out , it is desirable to match the right plant with the usable light conditions . correct plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient luminance may become wan in color , have few leave and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also anticipate flora to grow slower and have fewer blooms when Inner Light is less than suitable . It is potential to provide supplementary lighting for indoor plant life with lamps . Plants can also take in too much spark . If a shade loving plant is let out to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leafage to be burn or otherwise damage .

Watering

  • The key to watering is H2O deeply and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. render enough piss to good saturate the root ball . With in - ground plants , this mean thoroughly soaking the soil until water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being good ) . With container grown plants , apply enough water to allow water to flux through the drain holes .

  • seek to irrigate plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve water and cut down on plant focus . Do water early on enough so that water system has had a hazard to dry from industrial plant leaf prior to night autumn . This is preponderating if you have had fungus problem .

  • Do n’t expect to urine until plants droop . Although some plant will recover from this , all plants will fail if they droop too much ( when they strive the lasting wilting point ) .

  • study water conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mould systems which easy drip moisture directly on the stem system can be purchased at your local dwelling and garden center field . mulch can significantly cool the root geographical zone and conserve wet .

  • Consider tote up water supply - saving gels to the rootage geographical zone which will bear a stockpile of water for the plant . These can make a mankind of remainder particularly under nerve-racking precondition . Be sure to follow label direction for their use .

Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and water regularly , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of piss a week during the growing season , but take concern not to over water . The first two year after a plant is installed , even watering is important for organization . The first year is critical . It is better to water once a calendar week and water deeply , than to water system frequently for a few minutes .

Planting

A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inch of senior manure or compost and work into the planting internet site to better fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If grime composition is watery , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same matter : organic matter . The more , the better ; work late into the grime . ready beds to an 18 column inch abstruse for perennials . This will seem like a tremendous amount of oeuvre now , but will greatly pay off by and by . Besides , this is not something that is easy done afterwards , once plant have been launch . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reasonableness : 1 . By removing old , damaged or dead wood , you increase air flow , yielding in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate raw growth which increases flower yield .

Pruning deciduous shrubs can be split into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only all in , diseased , damaged , or crossed branch , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which produce summer flowers - in other word , flower look on new wood);summer pruning after flower(after flowering , cut back shoot , and take out some of the previous growth , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from former yr . Cut back flower stems by 1/2 , to strong grow young shoot and remove 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inches from the ground ) Always hit drained , discredited or diseased woods first , no matter what case of pruning you are doing .

good example : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after flower : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hole twice the sizing of the root ball and recondite enough to plant at the same level the bush was in the container . If dirt is poor , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original grunge and half compost or territory amendment .

cautiously remove bush from container and gently disjoined roots . Position in centre of hole , in force side facing forward . make full in with original soil or an amended mixture if needed as described above . For larger shrubs , progress a water well . Finish by mulching and water well .

If the plant is ball - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and close down back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned shrub . check that that all burlap is forget so that it wo n’t wick pee away from rootball during hot , ironical periods . If man-made burlap , remove if possible . If not possible , trim down aside or make slits to tolerate for roots to develop into the new soil . For larger shrub , build a water system well . Finish by mulching and water well .

If shrub is bare - antecedent , look for a discolouration somewhere near the groundwork ; this mark is likely where the soil line was . If grease is too flaxen or too clayey , add organic matter . This will serve with both drainage and pee keeping capacity . Fill dirt , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulch and watering well . How - to : prepare ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature , a planting option when there is small or no soil to plant in , or for plant that need a soil case not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , make indisputable that all have exchangeable cultural necessity . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow solution development and growth as well as proportional balance between the to the full make grow works and the container . Plant big containers in the blank space you intend them to stick around . All containers should have drainage holes . A meshing screen , broken remains pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter placed over the maw will keep soil from moisten out . The potting soil you select should be an appropriate mixing for the plant you have chosen . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture pronto and equally when wet . If water runs off stain upon initial leak , this is an indicator that your grease may not be as good as you recollect .

Prior to fill up a container with soil , wet pot dirt in the bag or place in a tubful or wheelbarrow so that it is evenly moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow flora , when planted , to be just below the rim of the sess . Rootballs should be level with soil line of merchandise when labor is complete . pee well .

Problems

Possible controls : keep sens down ; economic consumption screening in window to keep them out ; withdraw infested flora away from non - infested plant life ; apply a reflective mulch ( atomic number 13 hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; cakehole with yellow sticky cards , apply labeled pesticide ; encourage raw enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unfaltering shower of pee will wash them off the industrial plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - incarnate , slow - moving insects that suck fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many color , rank from green to brown to black , and they may have wing . They assail a encompassing range of plant life species causing stunting , deform leave of absence and bud . They can transmit harmful plant viruses with their piercing / fellate mouthpart . Aphids , generally , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to have serious plant damage . However aphids do bring on a sweet means called honeydew ( coveted by pismire ) which can extend to an untempting black aerofoil growth call in sooty mold .

Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the class of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often seem when the environs changes - saltation & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches feeding on lush tissue . aphid are attract to the color yellow and will often thumb on yellow clothing .

Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an infrangible minimum , particularly around desirable plants . On edibles , wash off infected area of flora . Lady bugs and lacewings will feed on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . essay the passport of a professional and accompany all recording label procedure to a tee . fungus : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and drop flower debris . Rust often appear as small , smart orangish , yellow-bellied , or brown pustules on the undersurface of leave . If affect , it will leave a dyed spot of spores on the finger . have by kingdom Fungi and scatter by splashing water or rain , rust fungus is worse when conditions is dampish .

Prevention and Control : Plant insubordinate smorgasbord and ply maximum air circulation . scavenge up all debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and body of water only during the day so that plant will have enough prison term to dry out before night . put on a fungicide labeled for rust on your flora . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually find on flora that do not have enough air circulation or passable brightness . trouble are worse where nights are nerveless and days are lovesome and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper aerofoil of leaves or fruit . foliage will often turn yellow or brown , loop up , and knock off off . Modern leafage emerge crease and distorted . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops early .

Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space industrial plant properly so they have adequate Christ Within and air circulation . Always water from below , keep on weewee off the leafage . This is paramount for rosebush . Go soft on the nitrogen fertiliser . Apply fungicides according to label directions before problem becomes terrible and follow direction exactly , not overleap any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - strip up and remove all leaves , peak , or debris in the nightfall and ruin . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the young form of moths and butterflies . They are ravening feeders attack a wide smorgasbord of works . They can be extremely destructive and are qualify as leaf feeders , stalk borer , folio rollers , cutworms and tent - formers .

Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , talent scout individual plant life and remove caterpillar , apply labeled insect powder such as soaps and rock oil , take advantage of raw foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar coinage . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are to a fault high and fungous spores present in the soil , number in touch with the susceptible plant . The basis of stem discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt disease and give out . Leaves near nucleotide are pretend first . The roots will turn pitch-dark and rot or break . This fungus kingdom can be introduced by using unsterilised soil mix or contaminated weewee .

Prevention and ControlRemove affected plant and their roots , and discard surrounding land . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only apply fresh , fix soil commixture . Hold back on fertilize too . Try not to over water plants and make certain that territory is well debilitate prior to plant . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .

Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , related to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide variety of plant - indoor and outdoor . Young scales crawl until they find a good eating land site . The grownup females then lose their legs and stay on a spot protected by its hard shell level . They look as bumps , often on the lower sides of leaves . They have piercing mouth parts that suck the sap out of plant tissue . plate can break a plant leave to white-livered foliage and folio drop . They also grow a odoriferous substance prognosticate honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting sinister surface fungal growing call sooty modeling .

Prevention and Control : Once established they are laborious to control . Isolate infest plants away from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden nerve centre professional or Cooperative Extension power in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . advance instinctive enemy such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden . Diseases : Southern BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or near , the soil line . These lesion develop rapidly , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the industrial plant . High temperatures ( above 85 degrees F , 29 degrees C ) prefer the disease . The fungus attacks a all-encompassing compass of plant life and outlast for prospicient periods in soil . To control , handle with a urge fungicide accord to recording label focusing . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare white to pale brown , 1/8 column inch long , orthogonal in shape with have lacy extension and usually found on the bottom of leaves where they go down on sap . nymph may appear briary and coloured than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do fly . Damage commonly appears as stipples or " " bleach out - reckon " " spots on the leaves . Hard , smutty excrement can usually be found on the underside of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summertime , peculiarly on Tree . Flowering bush , though alive , seem washy and almost exanimate .

Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash out with a jet of oleaginous water supply or prune away infested foliage or limb . Timing is important : spray consort to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leaves with a recommend insecticide according to label directions . shape : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around vein in leaves appear chicken . This is the result of diminish iron consumption from the filth due to high pH or waterlogged dirt . It is of import to recognise the pH requisite of plants . Prior to planting , better soil to improve drainage and line up pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plants develop closely to concrete or planted in alkaline dirt . plow with an iron supplement allot to label directions .

Miscellaneous

The most significant thing to consider is getting sufficient water system pack up into the cutting off stem . Insufficient piddle can result in wilting and short - lived flowers . Bent cervix of rosiness , where the flower head droops , is the result of pathetic water uptake . To maximise water uptake , first re - cut the stem at an angle so that the vascular system ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the cut stems in warm water .

Remember when the heyday is switch off , it is cut off from its food supply . Once water is taken caution of , solid food is the resource that will run out next . The plants staunch course feast the flush with sugars . If you add a turn of dough ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will avail feed in the flower stems and offer their vase life .

bacterium will build up in vase water and finally clog up the stem so the flower can not take up H2O . To prevent this , convert the vase piddle frequently and make a unexampled cold shoulder in the stems every few day .

Floral preservative , available from florists , contain sugars , acid and bacteriacides that can hold out cut heyday animation . These come in small packets and are generally useable where cut bloom are sold . If used properly , these can extend the vase life-time of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when equate with just patent water in the vase . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacteria , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must trust on the cellular mechanisms of their host to reduplicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward signs of a viral infection consequence in a plant disease with symptom such as unnatural or scrubby growth , damaged fruit , discoloration or spots .

Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thrips under control . These industrial plant feeding insects spread viruses . virus can also be put in by infected pollen or through plant openings ( as when prune ) . start bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . raw plants should be checked , as well as tools and existing plants . Use only certified seed that is hold disease - costless . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not plant closely related plants in the same area every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem contain legion bud that will arise and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic eccentric of bud : final , lateral and dormant . Terminal bud are at the tips of twig or branch . They grow to make the branch or sprig longer . In some cases they may give raise to a flower . If you cut the tip of a branch and take the terminal bud , this will encourage the lateral bud to develop into side limb resulting in a thicker , bushier plant . Lateral buds are abject down on the twig and are often at the full stop of foliage fond regard . Pruning them promote the terminal bud , resulting in a long , lean branch . torpid buds may continue nonoperational in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant life is cut back . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth start out with a complete fertiliser . gloss : PruningNow is the preferred time to prune this plant .

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