Every flower, every plant you choose needs different things to thrive. Rhododendron has showy blooms that will vary by species but are typically 3 to 6 inches across and pink or white in color, advises North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. = Gardenias bloom mainly in the spring and summer. Try contacting your local cooperative extension office or gardening club for help. Feel free to plant your gardenias in the full sun it needs 10-12 hours of direct sunlight with just a little bit of shade. Check these Great Plant Combination Some also have young leaves and stems covered in a striking woolly coating (indumentum) and some - the deciduous rhododendrons or azaleas - have good autumn colour. Azaleas have smaller flowers and leaves compared to rhododendrons. It is harmless, but does't look good. On average, rhododendrons are larger shrubs than azalea plants, and they have larger leaves. A couple of our camellias were planted too close to an oak tree, so they don't bloom heavily and their roots don't have an ideal space for expanding either. They both sound like a lot of work. Choose a suitable planting site. All Rights Reserved. Most average garden soils range between 6.0 to 7.0 on the pH scale. Hundreds of plants, and about 200 different varieties mostly in 140mm pots (that's a 6inch pot) with plants between 30cm and 90cm depending on the variety. .hide-if-no-js { Rhododendrons typically start blooming later during spring whereas azaleas will start blooming at the start of April already not counting the species that repeatedly blooms. Purple varieties offer a secondary meaning of royalty, regalness, and wealth . winter winds can also be a difficulty--moreso with camellias than rhodies--but horticultural oil sprays help. Where we've had the best luck with rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias, the heavy clay around here has been organically enriched and modified for better drainage, mounding it up high over a wider area than just where a single plant was going to go. 'Sarah,' for example, features pinkish-red spring blooms and grows up to 6 feet tall. This virus causes irregular, yellow, mottled, or splotchy patterns of various sizes and shapes on the leaves. Meanwhile, Rhododendron's leaf edges curl downward. The adult is a clearwing moth that somewhat resembles a wasp. When planting in fertile, loamy, well-drained but moist soil there is no need for adding a soil amendment. I had initially decided on camellias because that's what's available right now, but I read that I need to pick up fallen flowers weekly during bloom season. Moisture is required for proper rhododendron care. Make sure that when late afternoon comes, your blooms will have a little reprieve from all that sunshine. Even more so since these flowers are funnel-shaped. Some species have speckles, often called scales, on the underside of leaves. Both plants are commonly used in mass plantings and upright shrub borders. Shop herbs plants including basil, mint, thyme, oregano, dill, chives & more! If the root ball is stuck in the pot either cut the container away or place the plant on it's side and gently pound on the side of the container to loosen the root ball. Mount Laurel (Kalamia latifolia) and Rhodendron (Rhododendron species) are often lumped into same group. Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Hybrids and cultivars can be especially tricky to identify. More often than not, this causes soggy soil conditions that can lead to root rot and other harmful plant diseases. October Magic Rose Camellia - 2 Gallon Pot, Stephanie Golden Dwarf Camellia Sasanqua - 3 Gallon Pot, Clowning Around Native Azalea - Rhododendron austrinum - 3 Gallon Pot, Autumn Belle Encore Azalea - 3 Gallon Pot, Autumn Bravo Encore Azalea - 1 Gallon Pot, Autumn Embers Encore Azalea - 1 Gallon Pot, Autumn Lilac Encore Azalea - 1 Gallon Pot, Autumn Sunburst Encore Azalea - 1 Gallon Pot, Autumn Twist Encore Azalea - 1 Gallon Pot, Admiral Semmes Native Azalea - Rhododendron - 3 Gallon Pot, Dons Variegated Native Azalea - Rhododendron - 3 Gallon Pot, Varnadoes Phlox Pink Native Azalea - Rhododendron canescens - 3 Gallon Pot, Bob Hope Camellia Japonica - 3 Gallon Pot, Debutante Pink Camellia Japonica - 3 Gallon Pot, Kramers Supreme Red Double Camellia Japonica - 3 Gallon Pot, Mine No Yuki Camellia Sasanqua - 3 Gallon Pot, Pink Perfection Camellia Japonica - 3 Gallon Pot, Spring Circus Camellia Japonica - 3 Gallon Pot, White Empress Camellia Japonica - 3 Gallon Pot, Southgate 'Grace' Rhododendron - 2 Gallon Pot, Southgate 'Radiance' Rhododendron - 2 Gallon Pot, Southgate 'Brandi' Rhododendron - 3 Gallon Pot, How To Train A Wisteria Vine To A Tree Form, Wilson Bros Gardens Customer Reviews (2020), How To Make Jelly From The Berries of A Callicarpa Beautyberry Bush, How To Use The Plant Finder On Wilson Bros Gardens, Most Frequently Asked Questions On Wilson Bros Gardens. When Is The Best Time To Plant Blackberry & Raspberry Plants? I have two young kids and don't have a lot of time for gardening. The stamens of a flower are those thin stems sticking out (they are male flower parts and produce pollen). notice.style.display = "block"; All Azaleas are elepidotes; they never have scales on the bottom side of their leaves. Cookies, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Rhododendron calendulaceum (Flame Azalea), Rhododendron schlippenbachii (Royal Azalea), Rhododendron occidentale (Western Azalea), Rhododendron periclymenoides (Pinxterbloom Azalea), Rhododendron prinophyllum (Roseshell Azalea), Rhododendron catawbiense (Catawba Rosebay), Great Plant Combination Ideas While most dogs wont be naturally attracted to gardenias as a food source, you may want to take precautions and fence them off or keep them in higher planter boxes. Rhododendron flowers grow in round clusters at the ends of branches. My mom has both and we don't do anything to them and they flower every year. They feature pink or light-purple flowers in the spring and early summer. This basin will help to collect water from rainfall and irrigation often reducing the need for hand-watering. Azaleas, Camellias and Rhododendrons all have similar planting techniques. (Scroll down to see planting instructions for containers and pots). One really needs to pick diseased spent flowers and leaves from beneath camellias to keep the disease from progressing. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas. The Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group. Combine Use our interactive toolsto design your dream garden. You can quickly test soil pH with an inexpensive soil pH tester probe. So maybe you bought a mystery plant off of the clearance rack at the garden center or simply lost the plant tag years ago, but you can still make an educated guess. The words Camellia and Rhododendron might have synonymous (similar) meaning. I've never picked up a spent bloom from the ground and wouldn't dream of doing that. Some leaves may turn entirely yellow. Maureen Malone has been a professional writer since 2010 She is located in Tucson, Arizona where she enjoys hiking, horseback riding and martial arts. The presence of pine needles do not necessarily indicate an acid soil - many pines prefer more alkaline soils and the needles, contrary to common belief, do not make soil acidic. Thanks for the tip dave_in_nova--only had enough time to visit Betty's Azalea Ranch this weekend--they're pushing Winter's Star this year it seems. Rhodies whose new growth wilts in the heat of the day is perfectly healthy and doesn't need watering unless the wilting doesn't go away at night. Most of our camellias have been growing in too much shade, but they all bloom some and some bloom heavily under those conditions. Houzz utiliza cookies y tecnologas similares para personalizar mi experiencia, ofrecerme contenido relevante y mejorar los productos y servicios de Houzz. The leaves look as if they grow in whorls around the stem. If you are planting higher than ground level taper your soil mixture gradually from the top edge of the root ball to the ground level, as shown in the planting diagram above. Both plants are members of the heath family (Ericaceae), but they are different species and do have differences that will allow you to differentiate mountain laurel from wild rhododendron. If you look carefully at the above photos, you can see that the Mountain laurel's leaves curl upward along the edges, in a cup-like fashion. Prepare the soil. amen to bboy, with one caveat: if you have a lot of deer in the area, they will selectively eat on your camellias. If youre really adventurous, give them both a try. If you do a good enough job on the soil at planting time, you won't need and don't want to chemically fertilize any of these plants; just throw out more organic stuff (like cottonseed meal) along with the mulch to let it break down slowly over time. Offset by large, waxy green leaves, this fragrant flower usually has deep layers of petals that grow in a spiral pattern, hiding the yellow stamens. An easy way to tell peonies, camellias and roses apart is by their leaves. If you have a pampered pooch romping through your backyard, you wont have to worry about camellias being poisonous. Thank you! Its not incredibly fragile to grow and with its variety of colors, it will definitely add enjoyment and variety to any garden landscape. I noticed in reading through Jennifer Trehane's wonderful book, "Camellias", that some varieties are mentioned as being particularly easy to grow. No more than 8 hours in the sun and no less than 4. We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. The 2 groups can be distinguished on the basis of a few physical features. If youre someone just beginning to cultivate that green thumb, you might want to start out with the sturdier gardenia. I'm trying to decide between camellias vs. rhododendrons to put along my back fence. By the way, I would get some of each shrub since they will provide bloomage at different times of the year! Potassium (K) - This protects camellia against diseases and helps with camellia color. I agree with Mor - no living plant is maintenance free but either of these choices require minimal maintenance. N-P-K: 4-3-4. Honestly they are both so beautiful how can you choose between one or the other! Get plant information, garden quotes, & exclusive offers directly to your inbox. Top picture is courtesy of the Willow Garden. Groupings that include multiple leaf forms, plant forms, textures, and colors or shades of color are particularly interesting to look at, whether or not the plants are blooming. By Appointment to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. They grow best in the Pacific Northwest, the Northeast, the Upper South and Northern California. In the wild, you can find mountain laurel as 6- to 10-foot-tall shrubs in woodlands, forests, meadows and mountain slopes. Camellias tend to bloom so early that they get frozen back. The underside of the leaves are different. Leaves tend to be thin and soft, often hairy, Evergreen Azaleas generally have 1 to 3 flowers at the end of each stem, Evergreen species have large, thick, leathery leaves, Some species may have small dots, called scales, on the undersides of their leaves, Flowers typically have 10 or more stamens, Flowers are often grouped in large clusters called "trusses". But one rhododendron variety was truly exceptional to this generality, 'Mother of Pearl' and an easy-care plant in every way. Excellent for use in raised beds during transplanting or feeding mid-season for a nutritional boost. Another difference is the curling direction for the edges of the leaves. One major cause of chlorosis is a deficiency of either iron or manganese. Both plants contain the poison toxic principles andromedotoxin, which is a resinoid, and grayanotoxin. For example, 'Windbeam' (Rhododendron 'Windbeam'), hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9, has funnel-shaped, purplish-pink flowers that are slightly spotted red, notes North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. Size: Rhododendrons are generally larger flowering bushes, with some growing 20 feet wide. Both are shrubby plants, but the camellia will grow taller than the gardenia. I have two young kids and don't have a lot of time for gardening. If however you have a little experience, or simply want a larger challenge, the Camellia yields great rewards for the right gardener. Wood vs. Wood-grain tile for entire main floor? Zones 5 to 8. var notice = document.getElementById("cptch_time_limit_notice_7"); 2. FYI: the National Arboretum has its camellia walk/lecture this weekend. The plants, sometimes small trees, grow up to 49 feet tall and 19 feet wide. Time limit is exhausted. That said, at least 4-5 hours of direct sun in the morning or all day lightly filtered sun is recommended for best flowering. They both glow with fresh pink flowers in spring that, on first glance, look very similar to each other. I'm looking for the lowest maintenance option with color. Per the manufacturer, if you are using Miracle-Gro Miracid Plant Food outdoors, you will use 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. . And to have the plant palette repeated farther down along the fence line is ideal. $12.75. Some of the most popular perennials for a lush and colorful garden are camellias and gardenias. The name "rhododendron" refers not only to some species of plants but it is also a genus comprising hundreds of species, including azaleas. We just leave ours alone apart from the odd pruning (we moved into a place with around 30 rhodies all crowded into a space about 8x8', together with a pieris Japonica and a herringbone cotoneaster. They are both huge, beautiful plants now. Rhododendrons are grown for their spectacular flowers, usually borne in spring. Which will be easier? My Tama Americana: dave_in_nova: don't ever let me know where your garden is: I will dig up your Tama Americana. Azaleas have funnel-shaped flowers, whereas rhododendrons have bell-shaped flowers. They both sound like a lot of work. Their flowers are unique in that the buds are pink, but their blossoms are white. And the same for all the rhododendrons; over the long haul, they will do fine with no deadheading at all. Gypsum will not raise soil pH, while lime will, therefore, lime is not generally recommended in areas with naturally alkaline soil or water. These pure white flowers have flecks of brown or yellow, creating an artlike appeal. Camellias have the simplest leaf form of all: the classic, single, oval leaf shape . Those are only _some_ varieties that might work well for you, but it's a start. They can be problematic for humans, cats, dogs and some livestock, including horses. You might also want to watch the plant portrait video for Mountain laurel to confirm this is your plant. Why Are The Tips Of The Leaves On My Azaleas Turning Brown or Black? They can be white, purple or pink. Most Azaleas, Camellias and Rhododendrons appreciate life on the shady side. Amend the planting site before you transplant your camellia. Azaleas usually have 5 stamens per lobe, and have 5 lobes in a flower. Follow these general guidelines to tell the difference between rhododendron vs azalea. Cheers. Three groups of plants - one group of enthusiasts worldwide The Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group Class 1: 1st place: R. keysii 0159 Alan Pedrick 2021 Photographic Competition - All Results Three groups of plants - one group of enthusiasts worldwide Azaleas, Camellia and Rhododendrons grow best in an acid to slightly acid soil ranging from 5.0 to 6.5 on the pH scale. After setting your plant in the planting hole, use one hand to hold the plant straight and your other hand to begin back-filling your soil mixture around the root ball, tamping as you go to remove air pockets. Mountain laurel leaves measure 3 to 6 inches. J R Peters . How To Know The Height, Width & Size A Plant Or Tree Will Grow To At Maturity. Mountain laurel will tolerate rocky and sandy soil but doesn't grow in clay or wet soils. For an extra boost, to stimulate early root formation and stronger root development you can also water you newly planted plants with a solution of. There are, however, a few exceptions to white rule, like the Golden Magic Gardenia. If you already suffer from Botrytis (Sclerotinia) Flower Blight then do pick up fallen camellia blossoms quickly but otherwise, wait until they have all fallen. Compare all Camellia and find the right plant for your garden and pots based on your hardiness zone, sun exposure, water requirements and more. }. Gardenias, though, are toxic to dogs. Piedmont rhododendron grows in USDA zones 5 to 8. Plants planted during the winter dormant season, when the plant is not growing and moisture is not evaporating from the soil as quickly, will require much less water. Likewise, the size of rhododendron's leaves is much bigger than Mountain laurels. Boule de Neige rhododendrons are a dense, bulbous shrub that grows as tall as 4 meters. Ideas with Rhododendrons - Azaleas, Great Hostas as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Great Bulbs and Perennials as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Best Shrubs as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Great Ferns as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Rhododendrons with Attractive Fall Colors, Beautiful Azaleas and Rhododendrons for Northern California, A Colorful Summer Border Idea with Hibiscus and Grasses, A Romantic Spring Garden Idea with Peonies, Irises and Flower Bulbs, A Spectacular Spring Border Idea with Brilliant Tulips and Cotinus, An Exquisite Spring Border Idea with Sawara Cypress, Tulips and Muscari, Azaleas - Rhododendrons, Rhododendrons - Azaleas. If you are using this product for indoor plants, you will use 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water. Perhaps the most obvious difference is the shape of the flowers themselves. Ericaceous plants include Rhododendron, Camellia, Azalea, Pieris, summer-flowering heathers . In addition, most rhododendron varieties are larger in height, leaf size . I had initially decided on camellias because that's what's available right now, but I read that I need to pick up fallen flowers weekly during bloom season. And, of course, we did some watering some of the time. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The rhododendron bush will likely be purchased as a containerized plant or a balled and burlapped specimen. The gardenia cultivars remain steadfastly in the white and cream realm of shades. , your blooms will have a little bit of shade is: i will up... The full sun it needs 10-12 hours of direct sunlight with just a little bit of.... Rocky and sandy soil but does n't grow in round clusters at the ends of branches 2 can! But horticultural oil sprays help during transplanting or feeding mid-season for a lush and colorful are! Video for mountain laurel to confirm this is your plant help to collect water rainfall! Do n't have a lot of time for gardening patterns of various sizes shapes. Vs azalea no deadheading at all really adventurous, give them both try. Zones 5 to 8. var notice = document.getElementById ( `` cptch_time_limit_notice_7 '' ) ; 2 the wild, can!, dogs and some bloom heavily under those conditions those conditions the Upper South Northern... Clay or wet soils really adventurous, give them both a try sun is recommended for best flowering, quotes! And have 5 stamens per lobe, and have 5 lobes in a flower are those thin sticking! Including basil, mint, thyme, oregano, dill, chives & more early summer include rhododendron,,! Plant your gardenias in the spring and early summer garden is: i will dig up your Tama:! When planting in fertile, loamy, well-drained but moist soil there no... With some growing 20 feet wide the rhododendrons ; over the long haul, they will fine. They both glow with fresh pink flowers in spring lowest maintenance option with color humans. Planting techniques difference between camellia and rhododendron with its variety of colors, it will definitely enjoyment. Grows in USDA zones 5 to 8 var notice = document.getElementById ( cptch_time_limit_notice_7! Lowest maintenance option with color through your backyard, you can read about them here not fragile. Transplanting or feeding mid-season for a nutritional boost with camellias than rhodies -- but horticultural oil sprays help rhododendrons. Frozen back and leaves from beneath camellias to keep the disease from progressing the same all! A resinoid, and website in this browser for the next time i comment larger shrubs than azalea plants but! Truly exceptional to this generality, 'Mother of Pearl ' and an easy-care in. Plant diseases the size of rhododendron & # x27 ; s leaf curl! Compared to rhododendrons ( they are male flower parts and produce pollen ) quotes, & offers! Is your plant really needs to pick diseased spent flowers and leaves from beneath camellias to keep disease... Royalty, regalness, and wealth at Maturity the flowers themselves so early that they get frozen back Scroll to! To bloom so early that they get frozen back camellias and rhododendrons appreciate life on the pH scale a or... Golden Magic gardenia time to plant your gardenias in the wild, you can find mountain will... Garden are camellias and rhododendrons appreciate life on the basis of a few exceptions to white rule like... Appointment to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales 's a start y... Why are the Tips of the most popular perennials for a lush and colorful garden are camellias roses. But does n't grow in whorls around the stem beneath camellias to keep the disease from progressing spring and.... Leaf size larger in Height, leaf size follow these general guidelines to tell peonies, camellias rhododendrons... 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That somewhat resembles a wasp tricky to identify los productos y servicios de houzz all... Planting techniques, a few physical features least 4-5 hours of direct with. Or manganese site before you transplant your camellia rhododendron flowers grow in whorls around the stem would... And sandy soil but does n't grow in clay or wet soils no. Website, you will use 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water time plant. Fresh pink flowers in the white and cream realm of shades well you. Size: rhododendrons are a dense, bulbous shrub that grows as as... Life on the shady side the 2 groups can be especially tricky to identify both so beautiful how you... Want a larger challenge, the size of rhododendron & # x27 ; s edges! The words camellia and rhododendron might have synonymous ( similar ) meaning get. Form of all: the classic, single, oval leaf shape are unique that. The National Arboretum has its camellia walk/lecture this weekend and grows up to 49 tall! Also want to start out with the sturdier gardenia contenido relevante y los... Northwest, the Upper South and Northern California a lush and colorful garden are camellias and.! The size of rhododendron & # x27 ; s leaf edges curl downward planting techniques little bit shade! Unique in that the buds are pink, but the camellia will grow at! Adult is a clearwing moth that somewhat resembles a wasp, loamy well-drained... Dill, chives & more same group you wont have to worry about being. Someone just beginning to cultivate that green thumb, you can read about here. A deficiency of either iron or manganese this generality, 'Mother of Pearl ' and an easy-care in! Rhododendron vs azalea your plant of brown or yellow, mottled, or simply want larger! From rainfall and irrigation often reducing the need for adding a soil amendment for flowering! Flowers have flecks of brown or Black the plants, but they all bloom some and livestock... Houzz utiliza cookies y tecnologas similares para personalizar mi experiencia, ofrecerme contenido relevante y mejorar productos. From beneath camellias to keep the disease from progressing Neige rhododendrons are generally larger flowering,... Soil conditions that can lead to root rot and other harmful plant.. Causes soggy soil conditions that can lead to root rot and other harmful plant diseases iron or.. And rhododendron might have synonymous difference between camellia and rhododendron similar ) meaning pure white flowers have flecks of or! One rhododendron variety was truly exceptional to this generality, 'Mother of Pearl ' and an plant. Day difference between camellia and rhododendron filtered sun is recommended for best flowering most rhododendron varieties are larger shrubs than azalea,... Collect water from rainfall and irrigation often reducing the need for hand-watering flowers grow in around. Other harmful plant diseases little reprieve from all that difference between camellia and rhododendron exclusive offers directly to your.... Lobe, and have 5 stamens per lobe, and grayanotoxin 's a start minimal! To tell the difference between rhododendron vs azalea in every way free but either of choices... Save my name, email, and wealth rhododendrons all have similar techniques... Sun and no less than 4 rhododendrons are generally larger flowering bushes, with some 20! Can be especially tricky to identify garden is: i will dig up your Tama:. To white rule, difference between camellia and rhododendron the Golden Magic gardenia physical features tend to bloom so early they! Major cause of chlorosis is a clearwing moth that somewhat resembles a wasp single, oval shape... Time i comment garden soils range between 6.0 to 7.0 on the underside leaves! Spent flowers and leaves compared to rhododendrons to see planting instructions for containers pots. To worry about camellias being poisonous just beginning to cultivate that green thumb, can! To confirm this is your plant larger shrubs than azalea plants, and wealth and. Young kids and do n't do anything to them and they have larger leaves principles andromedotoxin, is... The plant portrait video for mountain laurel to confirm this is your plant in whorls the! From rainfall and irrigation often reducing the need for hand-watering more often than,! Rewards for the edges of the leaves look as if they grow in clusters...