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Azalea & Rhododendron

To Bloom or Not to Bloom

13 years ago

I have 2 questions. I planted four rhodys 18 mos ago. 2 Cunningham's and 2 Boursalt. All have done well. Last fall the Cunningham's started blooming. The blooms did not open fully. The blooms this spring seemed somewhat stunted. What caused the fall bloom? (No, I didn't fertilize.) Second question: Why do some of the buds open into bloom, while others open only into leaves, with no bloom?

TIA

Comments (2)

morz8 - Washington Coast
13 years ago
Rhododendrons set their flower buds in late summer for the following seasons blooms. Occasionally, weather conditions will cause a number of these to open prematurely in Fall and that errant Fall bloom can affect the normal flowering which would have occurred in Spring.

Rhododendrons produce two types of buds: flower buds (fat, more rounded, and blunt nosed) and foliage/growth buds.
eose
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you for your prompt and informative reply.
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