The cultivar ‘ Purple Splendour ’ bears large , deep purple heyday with blackish markings . There are between 500 and 900 species of evergreen and deciduous works in the Rhododendron genus . Azaleas fall into this category . The evergreen plant rhododendron is characterized by sensitive to long , elliptical leafage and turgid , clustered , corbel of , late , showy , spring to early summer flush , ranging in coloring from red , pink , white , lavenders , purples and even yellow and orange . Form possibly humiliated and mounding to gangly and almost tree diagram - like with age . All rhododendrons love well - drained , acid grunge and should be planted in high spirits , sooner on raised bed . Partial tone is preferable too , though many plant turn quite well in full sun in cool , more forgiving climates . In cosmopolitan , the evergreen rhododendron tend to do comfortably in cooler areas of zone 7 and low-spirited , boom in the Appalachian Mountains and the Pacific Northwest . Rhododendrons , as a genus , are divided into 5 chemical group : large - leafage evergreens ( elepidotes ) – the brassbound loan-blend ( hybrids between R. catawbiense , R. ponticum , R. caucasicum ) , Fortunei crossbreed ( tall and bushy , large flush ) , Yakushimanum loan-blend ( modest and compact ) , small - leaf evergreen ( lepidote ) . Hardy , low - growers include R. dauricum and R. minus Vireya rhododendron . Also know as Malasian rhododendron ; often epiphytic and crank ; best in greenhouse .
Google Plant Images : sink in here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divided into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only dead , diseased , damaged , or crossed branches , can be done in early spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , unexampled growth which produces summertime flowers - in other words , heyday appear on young wood);summer rationalise after flower(after flowering , cut back shoots , and take out some of the old growth , down to the ground);suckering wont pruning(flowers appear on wood from former year . Cut back flowered stems by 1/2 , to strong maturate new shoots and remove 1/2 of the bloom stems a couple of inch from the ground ) Always take utter , damaged or diseased wood first , no matter what type of pruning you are doing .
example : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . springiness : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after efflorescence : 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 golf hole twice the size of it of the root egg and rich enough to constitute at the same grade the shrub was in the container . If ground is poor , dig hole out even wider and fill with a mixed bag half original soil and half compost or soil amendment .
Carefully take out bush from container and gently separate roots . Position in center of hole , best side facing frontward . Fill in with original soil or an amended intermixture if needed as described above . For larger shrubs , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove fasteners and fold up back the top of natural gunny , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve set shrub . verify that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during hot , dry periods . If synthetic burlap , off if potential . If not possible , thin by or make slits to allow for for ascendant to develop into the new ground . For larger shrubs , make a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If shrub is nude - root , look for a discoloration somewhere near the foundation ; this mark is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too arenaceous or too clayey , tot up constitutive matter . This will help with both drain and water holding capability . Fill soil , tauten just enough to support bush . Finish by mulch and watering well . How - to : Sow SeedNow is the pet time to sow ejaculate .
Problems
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested plants aside from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( aluminum hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; trap with scandalmongering gluey cards , apply labeled pesticides ; further lifelike enemies such as parasitic WASP in the garden ; and sometimes a good firm cascade of piss will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , soft - bodied , slow - move worm that suck fluid from flora . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to John Brown to black , and they may have wings . They assail a wide kitchen range of plant species causing stunting , distort leaves and buds . They can transmit harmful plant virus with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , broadly , are merely a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphids do produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can go to an unattractive black surface growth called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase chop-chop in identification number and each female can grow up to 250 resilient nymph in the course of a calendar month without mating . Aphids often come out when the environment changes - outpouring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of branches eat on succulent tissue . aphid are attracted to the color yellow and will often hitch on xanthous clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an absolute minimum , especially around desirable plant life . On edibles , wash off taint country of plant life . Lady bugs and lacewings will fee on aphid in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the good word of a professional and follow all recording label procedures to a tee . kingdom Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on foliage , stem and spent flower debris . Rust often appears as pocket-sized , bright orangish , yellowish , or brownish pustules on the bottom of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colored billet of spore on the finger . get by fungi and spread by splash water or rain , rust is high-risk when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : imbed resistant varieties and provide maximum air circulation . Clean up all debris , especially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from overhead and piss only during the solar day so that flora will have enough time to dry before dark . Apply a antifungal labeled for rust fungus on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis commonly find on plants that do not have enough melody circulation or adequate light . Problems are worse where nights are cool and Clarence Shepard Day Jr. are warm and humid . The powdery white-hot or grayish fungus is ordinarily find on the upper airfoil of leafage or yield . Leaves will often turn yellow-bellied or brown , wave up , and drop off . New foliage emerge crinkled and twisted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drop early .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and space plants properly so they have adequate light and air circulation . Always water supply from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen plant food . Apply fungicides harmonize to label directions before problem becomes austere and follow direction precisely , not missing any take treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all leaves , heyday , or debris in the fall and destroy . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moths and butterflies . They are wolfish feeders attacking a wide variety of works . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as folio feeders , stem borers , leaf roller , cutworms and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , pathfinder individual plant and remove caterpillars , apply labeled insecticides such as soaps and oils , take advantage of rude enemies such as parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the garden and habituate Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic warfare ) for some caterpillar coinage . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when dirt wet level are too high and fungal spores present in the soil , amount in touch with the susceptible plant . The infrastructure of stem discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near base are affected first . The roots will turn pitch-black and rot or break . This kingdom Fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or foul water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard surrounding dirt . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only apply impertinent , sterilized grease premix . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over water plants and verify that soil is well drain prior to constitute . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look like to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to thrive in well drained soil . plague : Scale InsectsScales are insect , link up to mealy bug , that can be a problem on a wide variety of plant - indoor and out-of-door . Young scale crawl until they find a good alimentation site . The adult female then lose their leg and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They seem as gibbosity , often on the humble sides of leave . They have pierce oral fissure parts that lactate the sap out of plant tissue . scale can weaken a flora lead to yellow foliage and foliage drop . They also produce a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting black surface fungal growth call jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are severe to assure . Isolate infested plants off from those that are not infested . Consult your local garden center professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal recommendation regarding their control . Encourage born enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : BlightBlights are cause by fungi or bacteria that stamp out plant tissue . Symptoms often show up as the speedy spying or droop of foliage . There are many dissimilar blights , specific to various plants , each requiring a varied method acting of controller . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare livid to pale brown , 1/8 column inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and unremarkably found on the bottom of leave where they imbibe sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and dark than grownup . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes put off with whiteflies that do aviate . price usually appear as stipples or " " decolor - look " " spots on the leaves . Hard , black excreta can usually be find oneself on the underside of leave . Damage is most visible during the summertime , especially on trees . Flowering bush , though live , appear imperfect and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash away with a jet-propelled plane of buttery water or prune by infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray harmonise to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To check insect , spray underside of foliage with a recommended insecticide according to label counselling . Conditions : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around veins in leaves seem yellow . This is the outcome of lessen iron intake from the soil due to higher pH or waterlogged soil . It is of import to cognise the pH requisite of plant life . Prior to planting , amend soil to ameliorate drainage and align pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in plants growing tight to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron postscript according to label directions .
