Azaleas: The Aristocrat of the Garden

June, 2002

Even for those of us who struggle to keep silk flowers looking healthy, the venerable azalea is a beautiful houseplant that’s easy to maintain. Azaleas are one of the most popular flowers in America and few plants have made a greater contribution to gardens around the world. Spring is the peak time of the year for azaleas and so it is the perfect opportunity to decorate your home with this “aristocrat of the garden.”

Azalea lovers will tell you that when they are in full bloom, there is no other shrub that can beat this gem for sheer flower power. With proper care, their large, glamorous, frilled blossoms will last for weeks.

Azaleas are native to Japan and technically part of the genus rhododendron. Although they may be deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves, the kind grown as houseplants are evergreens, which do not shed their leaves.

“Azaleas are gorgeous, vibrant, colorful flowers,” comments 41 year Sunset veteran Joe Herbert. Joe adds that while the white, red, pink, and salmon colored blooms are all beautiful, his personal favorite is lavender. “Customers will just stop when they walk by a blossoming lavender azalea and comment on how beautiful it is. They usually will end up taking one or two home, as well.”

Azaleas are incredibly easy to care for when they are in bloom because they are actually dormant.” Joe comments, “Azaleas grow well in filtered shade outside, and they adapt well to varying degrees of indoor light, ranging from indirect to a window in full sun.” Joe adds that regular watering is the only care these plants need. "They aren't really fussy about the amount of light, but they do need to be evenly moist.”

With proper care, Joe says customers can expect the plant to stay in bloom for as long as a month. Although the flower is capable of reblooming, it is very difficult task and, in reality, after the bloom has faded, the plant is only useful as decorative vegetation.

Azaleas’ gorgeous blooms are a perfect compliment to the first warm days of spring and summer. For a simple home project, create this easy basket arrangement in minutes.

1. Line basket with plastic.

2. Pack enough moss, if necessary, into bottom of basket so rims of pots are just below the top of the basket.

3. Position the plants in the basket concealing their pots with additional moss or other decorative floral coverage.

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