Deciduous Azaleas

Over the past several years we have been creating a woodland walk into our Scott Outdoor Amphitheater in order to integrate the campus proper with the Crum Woods. The stand-out plants in these gardens are deciduous azaleas.

Deciduous azaleas, like Rhododendron canescens x austrinum, make excellent ornamentals because they are easy to establish and have an extensive range of large, showy flower colors. photo credit: R. Robert

Deciduous azaleas make excellent ornamentals because they are easy to establish and have an extensive range of large, showy flower colors. They offer blooms in spring with some cultivars even opening in the summer. They also boost attractive fall color for multi-seasonal interest.

Culturally they like acid, moist soil in sun or filtered light. Give them a dressing of mulch to keep the roots cool.

Here are some of our favorites in bloom right now along the woodland walk into the Scott Outdoor Amphitheater

Rhododendron ‘My Mary’ is putting on wonderful orange display in the Sibbett Garden where it is paired with the “orange” foliage of Heuchera ‘Caramel’. photo credit: R. Robert

Rhododendron ‘My Mary’ is putting on wonderful orange display in the Sibbett Garden where it is paired with the “orange” foliage of Heuchera ‘Caramel’. Blooming in May, ‘My Mary’ features yellow flowers with orange tubes.

Rhododendron ‘Sundance Yellow’ is a profuse bloomer has a compact habit with deep-yellow, frilly flowers. photo credit: R. Robert

Rhododendron ‘Sundance Yellow’ is planted en masse in the Parrish West Circle. This profuse bloomer has a compact habit with deep-yellow, frilly flowers.

Blooming in May, Rhododendron ‘Marydel’ has deep pink tubes with white flowers showcasing pink margins. photo credit: R. Robert

Discovered by horticulturist Polly Hill near the town Marydel, Delaware, Rhododendron ‘Marydel’ is a semi-dwarf shrub with fragrant flowers. Blooming in May, R. ‘Marydel’ has deep pink tubes with white flowers showcasing pink margins.

Consider delightful deciduous azaleas for your mass plantings and woodland margins.