Return to the Northern Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Growing Azalea in Wisconsin zone 3/4
| | |
Posted by ptilda 3 (My Page) on Mon, Jul 6, 09 at 4:34
| I DESPERATELY want to grow Azaleas, but I have had ZERO luck with this gorgeous plant. Of course, it's been years since I've tried, and I've learned a lot since then, so can I get some advice on how I can overwinter these plants, where to get healthy stock in Northern Wisconsin (Spooner), and which varieties are the best to attempt?
Also, my location is varying degrees of dappled shade, and I want to be sure that I plant them in the best place, so I'd appreciate any feedback on that as well. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Growing Azalea in Wisconsin zone 3/4
| | |
| ptilda, I don't know too much about azaleas, but (and you may already know this) there are a whole series of azaleas called the Northern Lights Azaleas. From what I understand they are pretty well the hardiest. |
Here is a link that might be useful: azalea
RE: Growing Azalea in Wisconsin zone 3/4
| | |
| Call this place. I met the owner at a conifer convention and he is quite knowledgable. I see he carries azaleas. tj |
Here is a link that might be useful: Edelweiss
RE: Growing Azalea in Wisconsin zone 3/4
| | |
| Thread is getting a little old - but the Northern Lights series of azaleas are pretty much available at the "real" garden centers and nurseries all over Minnesota, and probably Wisconsin too - not so much at the big boxes though. Edelweiss up here in Duluth is a terrific place - high end, lots of specialty stock in shrubs, trees, conifers, plants in general etc. etc. But there must be some place closer to you - Rice Lake, if not Spooner. And there's always mail order to start out with a "twig". The Northern Lights azaleas (and the PJM Rhododendrons, too) do real well up here in zone 4. I've got a yellow one and the one called "Mandarin" in full sun, and two reds in dappled and/or passing shade. They don't seem to need anything special; I don't fertilize, mulch or otherwise protect or provide supplemental water. The PJM Rhododendrons seem to be readily available at Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards, but pretty limited to pink and a more lavender pink. Those do fine in sun or part sun. And both the azaleas and rhododendrons will still set buds after winters with sustained temps of 30-40 below. |
RE: Growing Azalea in Wisconsin zone 3/4
| | |
| Excellent! Thanks for the advice! I am going to try to get something now, so that it can get some roots before freezing starts. |
RE: Growing Azalea in Wisconsin zone 3/4
| | |
| I just read a handout on azaleas from Univ of Minnesota that I found online, and cold hardy varieties they recommended for both Minnesota and Wisconsin include: Rhododendron x kosterranum (mollis azaleas)
Rhododendron mucronulatum
Northern Lights Series of hybrid azaleas They also recommended that evergreen rhododendrons tolerate shade better. Hope this helps! |
|
|
|
|
