Azalea and rhododendron are the same or different plants

Among ornamental plants, compact, beautifully flowering shrubs have gained immense popularity among gardeners. Azalea and rhododendron are especially famous for their lush flowering. Plants belong to the same Heather family and are similar in appearance, but differ in agricultural technology. How to learn to recognize them and grow them correctly is described in the article.

Azalea and rhododendron - is there a difference

From a biological point of view, plants have a lot in common.

• Both members of the family form shrubs covered with shiny succulent foliage.
• During the flowering period, huge inflorescences, consisting of many bright buds, open on the branches of the azalea and rhododendron. The flowers often give off a strong honey scent.
• The color of the petals is varied: white, yellow, purple, crimson, pink.
• Plants are equally demanding on air humidity, they like loose soil with high acidity. Their superficial root system does not allow deep loosening of the soil, so the ground under the bushes is mulched.

Blooming rhododendron is beautiful and bright

Such a number of common signs makes many gardeners believe that it is not so important to plant an azalea or rhododendron in the garden. This is a misconception that can be detrimental to the growth of a seedling.

All representatives of the azalea genus do not tolerate low temperatures (they die already at +4 degrees), and are able to grow in open ground only in the southern regions of Russia (Crimea, Stavropol Territory). In the rest of the territory, these plants are grown as home or greenhouse flowers.

Historical confusion

The first mentions of the beautiful flowering shrub "azalea" date back to the 5th century BC. Even then, the wonderful flowering delighted the ancient Greeks. Later, plants with a similar structure of the trunk and flowers began to be found in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the Caucasus, in Southeast Asia and North America.

Botanists have long believed that azalea and rhododendron are two genera, part of the same family, that differ in size and resistance to cold. Azalea forms a compact bush, no more than half a meter high and does not tolerate frost. Rhododendrons can grow up to 3 m in height, and are not so demanding on weather conditions (they can withstand frosts down to -20 degrees). A different classification has now been adopted in botanical circles.

Modern classification

Today, scientists, after conducting a series of genetic tests, have included all species of azalea in the genus Rhododendron. In other words, it is correct to consider an azalea as a rhododendron, but not vice versa.

In the garden classification, they continue to distinguish azaleas into a separate group, indicating a difference in the structure of the flower. She has 5 stamens in the bud, 10 and more in the rhododendron. In addition, Russian gardeners clearly know that miniature bushes can only be grown at home.

How to distinguish azalea from rhododendron by appearance

The main difference between representatives of the same genus from each other can be described in two words - dwarfs and giants. An azalea bush never exceeds 50 cm in size, more often its height is 30 cm.At the same time, the diameter of the inflorescences reaches 7-12 cm.These compact plants grow well in standard flower pots. They can be placed on the windowsill along with the usual house plants.

Indoor flower does not take up much space

The height of wild rhododendron and its garden varieties can reach 3 m, in rare cases - 4 m. Powerful shrubs or small trees are planted as hedges or as large-sized tapeworms on the lawn.

Other differences in appearance:

• different number of stamens in the bud;
• the shape of the azalea flower resembles an open funnel, the rhododendron has a bell-shaped bud;
• the foliage of miniature specimens is covered with barely noticeable down, the leaves of large plants are scaly;
• almost all azaleas (except Japanese) lose their foliage during the dormant period; among the rhododendrons there are evergreens.

Difference in azalea and rhododendron care

In the Russian climate, azalea is cultivated exclusively as an indoor or greenhouse flower. Unpretentious representatives of the Heather family can be grown up to the latitude of the Moscow region, in the Urals, southern Siberia and the Far East.

This blooming rhododendron wall can be grown in your garden

Both plants need a loose, breathable substrate with an acidic reaction at 4-5 pH levels. For planting indoor varieties, prepare a mixture:

• coniferous humus (they take soil in a pine forest or compost with needles for 3 years);
• peat;
• sand (vermiculite).

The components will be needed in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. You can purchase ready-made soil from a garden store. At the bottom of the pot, gravel or broken brick must be poured to protect the roots from moisture stagnation.

Street plants add these ingredients to the soil, at the rate of 5-6 kg of peat and coniferous humus, 5-7 kg of sand per 1 sq. m.

The first difference. Some species of rhododendron grow well on slightly acidic and neutral soils, while azalea needs only acidic soil.

Both plants are placed in a well-lit place, but not in the sun. The eastern slope or area in the openwork shade of large trees is ideal. In dense shade, flowering becomes scarce, the color of the petals fades. Indoor specimens must be placed away from heat sources, since the azalea cannot stand dry and hot air.

Street bush care consists of watering, feeding, pruning and sheltering for the winter (in those regions where the winter temperature drops below -20 degrees).

• Water the rhododendron at least 2 times a week, pouring 1.5 buckets of liquid under an adult bush. The water is acidified with lemon juice, succinic or oxalic acid.
• The shrub is fed in spring, summer and autumn. In order not to disturb the acidity of the soil, it is recommended to apply complex mineral fertilizers specially designed for this group of plants. Watering with a nutrient solution under the root is alternated with spraying the foliage. In the spring, it is allowed to mulch the soil surface around the bush with a mixture of compost (vermicompost) and sour (high-moor) peat.
• With the onset of cold weather, rhododendrons are insulated. The base of the stem is mulched with sawdust to a height of 20-30 cm, the crown is wrapped in layers of white lutrasil, and the bush is covered with a film on top of it. Heat-loving (evergreen) varieties are built of plywood houses, the inner space of which is filled with sawdust, foam crumbs, fallen leaves.

In such a box, the plant is not afraid of frost and snow.

As needed, the rhododendron is sheared, removing old and damaged shoots. He does not need a strict formation of the crown, they only make sure that it does not become thickened.

Taking care of an indoor plant variety during the active growing season is almost the same as caring for a garden flower. Only it should be watered, avoiding waterlogging of the soil and stagnation of water in the pan.

In winter, when the radiators are operating at full capacity, it is important to protect the azalea from the heat and dryness of the air. Florists have come up with various tricks on how to protect pets:

• pieces of ice are placed on the ground in a pot without touching the trunk;
• place a flower on a glazed balcony, where the temperature is kept at +8 .. + 15 degrees;
• water and spray the azalea with water, with a temperature not higher than +16 degrees.

After flowering with azalea, the following manipulations are carried out:

• cut off the faded buds and excess young shoots that thicken the crown;
• the flower pot is rearranged in a shaded and cool (temperature not higher than +15 degrees) room;
• provide air humidity at the level of 70% (put bowls of water near the plants, irrigate the azalea with cool water).

The post-flowering period is favorable for replanting indoor plants, if necessary. A wide and low pot is selected for the bush, where it is transferred, without covering the root collar with soil.

The second difference. Indoor plants need special care in winter and after flowering. Bushes wintering on the street are reliably enough to insulate.

During the flowering period and in the phase of growing green mass, the azalea needs weekly top dressing with specialized fertilizers (Fasco, Kemira).

Third difference. Rhododendron has less stringent requirements for the frequency of feeding than house plants.

When choosing a shrub for your garden, it is important not to confuse and not purchase a delicate azalea instead of an unpretentious rhododendron. At a young age, when there are no flowers on the branches, it is almost impossible to distinguish seedlings from each other. Therefore, planting material should be purchased in nurseries where re-grading is not allowed.