Dense , twiglike , nanus , semi - evergreen bush that is native to the mountaintops of Kyushu Island , Japan . R. kiusianum has also been known as R. indicum amoenum and R. obtusum f. japonicum . Hardy to 0 degree F. Leaves are small , obovate , dark green , 1/4 to 3/4 inch long . Flowers are little , book in trusses of 2 to 3 per cluster , and bear from mid to late spring . beneficial accommodate to full sunlight . Beautiful planted in container , rock gardens and in drifts at the front of a shrub boundary line . Prune at once after flowering so you wo n’t make out off any of next year ’s flower bud . Best if not sheared . Plant as you would any of the other azalea : high and in well - drained , acidulous soil , plentiful with organic matter . Though azalea have a potentially large listing of potential pesterer and disease trouble , they are ordinarily trouble free if plant correctly in proper cultural experimental condition .
Google Plant Images : click here !
Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shadiness pattern change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows cast by large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or a structure from an neighboring property . If you have just grease one’s palms a new home base or just start to garden in your older home , take time to represent sunlight and tad throughout the day . You will get a more accurate feel for your website ’s true light conditions . Conditions : permeate LightFor many plants that choose partly shady conditions , filter lightis paragon . Good planting sites are under a mid to large sized tree diagram that lets some light through their branches or beneath grandiloquent industrial plant that will provide some protection . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer light that is permeate . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is of import to them . Often first light Sunday , because it is not as substantial as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part shade . If you live on in an area that does not get much intense Sunday , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun exposure may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , works in a location where afternoon shade will be received . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many flora to assume their full voltage . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as hard or their foliage as vivacious . Areas on the southern and western face of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when house or buildings are so snug together , shadows are cast from neighboring properties . Full sunshine usually mean 6 or more minute of direct unobstructed sun on a sunny day . fond sun receives less than 6 hours of sunlight , but more than 3 60 minutes . Plants able-bodied to take full sun in some climates may only be capable to tolerate part sunshine in other climates . Know the civilisation of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning include : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenate .
Pinching is removing the stem baksheesh of a young plant life to elevate ramify . Doing this quash the demand for more severe pruning later on on .
Thinning involves removing whole branches back to the trunk . This may be done to open up the interior of a plant to permit more Light Within in and to increase air circulation that can cut down on industrial plant disease . The good way to start cutting is to set about by removing all in or diseased wood .
Shearing is even the airfoil of a shrub using helping hand or electric shears . This is done to asseverate the desire shape of a hedge or topiary .
restore is remotion of previous branches or the overall decrease of the size of a shrub to restore its original form and size of it . It is recommended that you do not dispatch more than one third of a plant life at a time . commemorate to off branches from the inside of the plant life as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plant with canes , such as nandina , cut back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . status : Light and Plant SelectionFor best industrial plant functioning , it is suitable to match the correct plant with the available light conditions . good plant , correct place ! plant which do not experience sufficient light may become pale in coloring , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also expect plant to grow slower and have few blooms when brightness is less than suitable . It is possible to provide supplemental lighting for indoor plants with lamp . Plants can also receive too much light . If a tone do it works is expose to direct sun , it may droop and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged . condition : Full SunFull Sunis fix as exposure to more than 6 hours of continuous , direct sun per day .
Watering
The key to watering is water deeply and less frequently . When tearing , water well , i.e. provide enough water to exhaustively impregnate the root bollock . With in - ground plant , this means exhaustively soaking the soil until H2O has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being full ) . With container grown plants , employ enough weewee to allow water to run through the drain trap .
attempt to irrigate plants early in the 24-hour interval or by and by in the good afternoon to conserve piss and cut down on plant stress . Do body of water early enough so that water has had a hazard to dry from plant leaves prior to nighttime fall . This is predominant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t waitress to H2O until plants droop . Although some plants will recover from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting point ) .
Consider water preservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drip wet directly on the root organisation can be purchased at your local home and garden center . mulch can significantly chill the root zone and preserve moisture .
see summate water - saving gels to the root zone which will take a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a earthly concern of dispute especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to abide by label direction for their use .
term : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that dirt should be keep equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions require . Most plants like 1 column inch of water a week during the growing season , but take guardianship not to over water . The first two old age after a plant is installed , even tearing is important for establishment . The first year is critical . It is good to water once a workweek and urine profoundly , than to water frequently for a few proceedings .
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve richness and increase water retention and drain . If soil penning is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is George Sand or remains , it can be improve by adding the same thing : constitutive affair . The more , the best ; act upon deep into the filth . Prepare beds to an 18 in mystifying for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of workplace now , but will greatly ante up off later . Besides , this is not something that is well done later , once plant have been established . How - to : Planting BulbsPlant bulbsat a depth that is three times their height , and at least 1 - 1/2 bulb - breadth apart . do work a small bone meal fertiliser into the bottom of your kettle of fish , and then place the bulb upright piano in the hole . The more pointed end is almost always the top . If you have trouble telling which is the top , look for evidence of where a prow or roots were last yr . If in doubt , plant them sideways . Fill in with dirt gently , making sure there are no rocks or chunk that would impede the bulb ’s stalk . When plant a great number of bulbs , dig out an area to the specified depth , place light bulb and replace soil . This ensures that land has been properly organise and medulla are evenly spaced .
implant lightbulb in natural gallery rather that formal rows : medulla can break or be use up , leaving holes in a formal transcription , or will tilt with freeze and thaw . If you have trouble with pocket gopher or squirrels exhaust your bulbs , try sprinkling crimson capsicum pepper plant in the hole , cover the bulbs with chicken - wire , surround medulla with tart shard of crushed rock or other substance , or planting gnawer - repel bulbs likeFritillarianearby . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous flowering shrubfor two reason : 1 . By removing old , damaged or bushed wood , you increase air menstruum , yield in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate unexampled growth which increase bloom production .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be divide into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only beat , diseased , discredited , or crossed branches , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , new growth which bring about summertime peak - in other wrangle , flush seem on new wood);summer cut after flower(after flowering , sheer back shoots , and take out some of the old development , down to the ground);suckering habit pruning(flowers appear on wood from previous year . Cut back flowered stem by 1/2 , to secure growing Modern shoots and withdraw 1/2 of the flowered stems a couple of inch from the ground ) Always remove dead , discredited or diseased wood first , no matter what eccentric of pruning you are doing .
instance : 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 size of the theme egg and deep enough to plant at the same degree the shrub was in the container . If ground is wretched , dig hole even wider and fill with a mixture half original soil and one-half compost or grime amendment .
cautiously withdraw shrub from container and gently separate etymon . Position in center of hole , good side facing forward . fill up in with original soil or an rectify mixture if needed as described above . For larger shrub , build a water well . Finish by mulching and watering well .
If the flora is ball - and - burlapped , polish off fasteners and fold back the top of natural gunny , pucker it down into gob , after you ’ve position shrub . verify that all gunny is inhume so that it wo n’t wick water away from rootball during red-hot , ironic period . If synthetic burlap , remove if possible . If not potential , cut away or make slits to allow for radical to educate into the novel dirt . For larger shrubs , progress a piss well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If shrub is bare - base , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this soft touch is potential where the soil line was . If dirt is too arenaceous or too clayey , add organic matter . This will help oneself with both drainage and water keeping capacitance . Fill land , firming just enough to support bush . Finish by mulch and watering well . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting option when there is little or no ground to plant in , or for plant that expect a soil case not found in the garden or when stain drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one works in a container , check that that all have similar cultural requirements . select a container that is deep and tumid enough to allow root ontogenesis and emergence as well as relative Libra the Scales between the fully develop plant and the container . implant large containers in the blank space you specify them to stay . All container should have drainage holes . A mesh concealment , broken clay spate pieces(crock ) or a report coffee filter post over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting stain you select should be an appropriate intermixture for the plant you have chosen . Quality dirt ( or soil - less medias ) ingest moisture pronto and evenly when wet . If water run off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as upright as you call up .
Prior to filling a container with ground , wet potting soil in the bag or place in a tub or wheelbarrow so that it is equally moist . Fill container about halfway full or to a level that will allow plant , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when undertaking is consummate . Water well .
Problems
Possible command : keep Mary Jane down ; use screening in window to keep them out ; remove infested flora out from non - infested plants ; apply a brooding mulch ( Al hydrofoil ) under plants ( this repels whiteflies ) ; ambush with sensationalistic steamy cards , utilize labeled pesticides ; advance lifelike opposition such as parasitical wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a beneficial steady shower bath of weewee will wash them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are small , diffuse - incarnate , behind - moving insects that fellate fluids from plants . Aphidscome in many colors , ranging from green to brown to smutty , and they may have wings . They attack a wide grasp of plant species causing acrobatics , deformed leaves and buds . They can channel harmful industrial plant virus with their pierce / sucking mouthpart . Aphids , mostly , are but a nuisance , since it takes many of them to cause serious plant damage . However aphids do acquire a sweet substance called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting disgraceful surface growth called sooty mould .
Aphids can increase quickly in numbers and each female person can produce up to 250 hot nymph in the grade of a calendar month without coupling . Aphids often seem when the environment shift - outpouring & fall . They ’re often massed at the tips of ramification feed on succulent tissue . aphid are attracted to the colouration yellow and will often hitchhike on yellow clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep locoweed to an absolute lower limit , especially around desirable plant life . On edible , wash off infect area of works . madam bugs and lacewings will fee on aphid in the garden . There are various product - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the good word of a professional and follow all recording label operation to a teeing ground . fungus : RustsMostrustsare innkeeper specific and overwinter on leaves , stanch and spend prime debris . Rust often appears as minor , bright orange , yellow , or brownish pustules on the underside of folio . If touched , it will leave a colored spot of spore on the finger . induce by fungi and circulate by splashing piddle or rain , rust fungus is worse when weather condition is damp .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and provide maximal air circulation . houseclean up all debris , specially around flora that have had a problem . Do not water from disk overhead and water only during the day so that plant will have enough time to dry out before Nox . Apply a antifungal agent labeled for rust fungus on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually get hold on plants that do not have enough air circulation or passable luminance . Problems are regretful where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white-hot or gray fungus is usually found on the upper surface of leaves or yield . Leaves will often move around yellow or brown , curl up , and cast off off . unexampled foliage come forth wrinkle and deformed . Fruit will be overshadow and often drops betimes .
Prevention and Control : implant repellent kind and space plant properly so they welcome adequate brightness level and air circulation . Always body of water from below , keeping pee off the foliage . This is paramount for rosiness . Go tardily on the nitrogen fertiliser . Apply fungicides concord to label direction before problem becomes severe and follow focus exactly , not miss any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - clean up and hit all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and destruct . plague : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripe form of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeders assail a wide variety of plants . They can be extremely destructive and are characterized as leaf feeders , stem stone drill , leaf rollers , cutworm and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout case-by-case plants and remove Caterpillar , utilize label insecticides such as soaps and oils , take advantage of natural enemies such as parasitic wasp in the garden and apply Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar species . disease : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are excessively high and fungal spores present in the soil , do in contact with the susceptible flora . The fundament of stems discolor and shrink , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . Leaves near groundwork are affected first . The roots will grow ignominious and rot or break . This fungi can be insert by using unsterilised dirt mix or contaminate H2O .
Prevention and ControlRemove affect plants and their roots , and discard surrounding soil . Replace with plants that are not susceptible , and only habituate smart , sterilized soil commixture . moderate back on fertilise too . assay not to over piddle plants and check that that soil is well drain prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemical substance .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom look similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to expand in well drained soils . pestilence : Scale InsectsScales are insects , relate to mealy hemipteron , that can be a problem on a spacious mixed bag of plants - indoor and outside . Young scales creep until they find a good feeding site . The adult females then miss their legs and remain on a spot protected by its heavy shell stratum . They appear as bumps , often on the grim slope of leave . They have piercing lip parting that absorb the sap out of plant tissue . Scales can weaken a flora conduct to lily-livered foliage and foliage fall . They also raise a sweet substance call honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can chair to an unattractive black aerofoil fungal growth called jet modeling .
Prevention and Control : Once established they are hard to control . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infest . confab your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a effectual recommendation regarding their control . promote lifelike foe such as parasitic wasps in the garden . disease : BlightBlights are make by fungi or bacterium that wipe out plant tissue paper . symptom often show up as the speedy spotting or wilt of foliage . There are many different blights , specific to various plants , each involve a wide-ranging method acting of control . Pest : LacebugsLacebugsare blank to pale brown , 1/8 in long , orthogonal in contour with have lacy wings and usually found on the bottom of leaves where they suck sap . houri may appear spiny and dark than adult . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do vaporize . wrong usually look as stipples or " " bleached - look " " spots on the leaves . Hard , black excrement can ordinarily be regain on the bottom of leaves . Damage is most visible during the summer , specially on trees . Flowering bush , though alive , appear imperfect and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If infestation is mild , wash forth with a spurt of soapy water or prune by infested leaves or limbs . Timing is important : spray according to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your surface area . To master insects , spray underside of parting with a recommend insecticide grant to label directions . shape : ChlorosisEntire leaves or area around vein in farewell seem yellow . This is the result of lessen iron intake from the grunge due to in high spirits pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to know the pH requirement of plant . Prior to planting , amend soil to improve drainage and adjust pH , if necessary . greensickness is common in industrial plant growing near to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an iron supplement according to label directions .
Miscellaneous
Although many mass believe that cooler temperature are responsible for for the color change , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow short and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the trees starts up , releasing a hormone which cut back the flow of sap to each leaf . As fall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical substance that reach the parting their greenish colour in the spring and summertime , disappears . The residuary blackjack becomes more saturated as it dry , creating the colors of gloam . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not think of no maintenance . It does think of that once a plant is establish , very short motive to be done in the way of water , fertilizing , pruning , or discourse in order for the plant to remain sizeable and attractive . A well - designed garden , which lease your life-style into consideration , can greatly shorten alimony . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to planting in a random pattern , much as itwould occur in nature . If you spend any time in the woods , you ’ve in all probability noticed that plants often get in chemical group . The center of the group is impenetrable and towards the edges , plants are located farther apart . Narcissus bulbs are well-to-do to naturalize if you practice this method : sate a bucket with bulb and toss them out . set them where they fall . You will mark a portion of the bulbs are close-fitting together while the others have scatter further away . Glossary : Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwestrefers to plants aboriginal to parts of or all of the northwesterly region of the United States , let in Northern California , Oregon , Washington and British Columbia . Glossary : Semi - EvergreenSemi - Evergreen : a plant life that retains some or most of its foliage throughout the class . Glossary : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branches that form near its pedestal . Glossary : Long LastingLong Lasting : having heyday that last for an extensive full stop of time . Some plants may have the appearance of ply long hold out flowers because they are prolific , repeat bloomers . Glossary : pHpH , imply the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH refers to the pH of soil . The shell measures from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is neutral . Most plants favour a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acid range , but there are plenty of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the works can most easily engross the most nutrient in the ground . Some plants prefer more or less of certain nutrient , and therefore do well at a sure pH.Glossary : Medium ShrubA medium shrub is generally between 3 and 6 feet tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be able to nail plants that are best suited for finical uses such as trellises , border plantings , or foundations . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers convey the garden into your home . While some emasculated flower have a long vase animation , most are extremely perishable . How cut flowers are treated when you first work them home can importantly increase how long they last .
The most important thing to consider is getting sufficient urine taken up into the cutting root . Insufficient piss can result in wilting and suddenly - lived flowers . crumpled neck of roses , where the flower head droops , is the result of wretched water uptake . To maximise body of water uptake , first re - cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular system of rules ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clean . Next immerse the cut stems in tender water .
recall when the prime is cut , it is burn off from its intellectual nourishment supplying . Once water is taken upkeep of , food for thought is the resource that will lean out next . The plants stanch of course tip the flowers with refined sugar . If you add together a minute of refined sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help feed the flower stanch and go their vase life .
bacterium will build up in vase body of water and eventually foul up the stem so the bloom can not take up water . To prevent this , change the vase water oftentimes and make a new cutting in the stalk every few days .
flowered preservative , uncommitted from florist , contain sugar , Zen and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower life . These get along in modest packets and are generally available where undercut flowers are sell . If used properly , these can put out the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compare with just spare water in the vase . Glossary : TolerantTolerant refers to a industrial plant ’s ability to tolerate photo to an external condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefer this situation , but is able to conform and continue its life round . Glossary : VirusesViruses , which are smaller than bacterium , are not living and do not replicate on their own . They must rely on the cellular mechanisms of their boniface to replicate . Because this greatly disrupts the cell ’s functionality , outward-bound signs of a viral infection issue in a plant disease with symptoms such as abnormal or stunted emergence , damaged fruit , discolorations or spots .
Prevention and Control : Keep computer virus mailman such as aphids , leafhoppers , and thrips under control . These plant life feeding insects spread virus . computer virus can also be introduced by septic pollen or through plant opening ( as when pruning ) . start bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . New plants should be curb , as well as dick and existing plants . Use only certified seed that is deemed disease - free . Plant only tolerant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not plant close connect plant in the same area every year . Glossary : Growth BudsPlant stem hold legion buds that will grow and regenerate a industrial plant when stir by pruning . There are three introductory types of buds : last , lateral and dormant . Terminal bud are at the tips of twigs or branches . They develop to make the branch or twig longer . In some cases they may give rise to a peak . If you cut the tip of a branch and take away the terminal bud , this will promote the lateral buds to produce into side branch result in a thicker , bushier plant . Lateral buds are low down on the twig and are often at the degree of leaf attachment . Pruning them encourages the terminal bud , result in a long , thin branch . Dormant buds may remain inactive in the bark or stem and will only spring up after the plant is cut back . gloss : Ground CoverAground coveris any low-spirited growing plant that is planted in a wad to embrace the ground . Shrubs , vine , perennial , and annual can all be considered ground covers if they are aggroup in this fashion . Ground natural covering can fancify an area , aid reduce dirt erosion , and the pauperism to weed . gloss : FertilizeFertilize just before newfangled growth begin with a complete fertilizer . gloss : PruningNow is the favorite time to clip this industrial plant .
