### plant | tracheophyte | bush | rhododendron:

Azalea
* All azaleas are rhododendrons
  - have five lobes to the flower
* Most azaleas are deciduous, although most types used in the home landscape are evergreen
  - self-cleaning, meaning the spent blooms fall off
  - grown in the Southeast, excepting the native deciduous azaleas, are of Oriental origin
* also tend to prefer moist, semi-shady conditions, but some varieties can take full sun
  - transplant well in early fall and often are on sale at that time of the year
* always bloom just as brightly.
* appear to prefer a site with filtered sun throughout the day.
* are all in bloom with colors ranging from white, to pink, to apricot.
* are also a highly valued export
  - limited in wildlife value but are beautiful in landscaped situations
  - always a favorite, and their color varieties range from white to deep red
  - among the most neglected or incorrectly pruned shrubs in our landscape
  - another favorite for hummingbirds as well as butterflies
  - as much a part of the South as okra or fried chicken
  - bushs
  - fibrous, shallow-rooted plants
  - generally healthy plants when their basic cultural requirements are met
  - in full flower in many places
  - shallow rooted and require lots of water in a well-drained and aerated soil
  - shallow-rooted plants that are easily damaged by excessive soil moisture
  - shallow-rooted, so dig it no deeper that a foot and twice as wide as the rootball
  - some of the first plants to show saltwater damage
  - the shy token of first love and fragile passion
  - tough to keep year after year
  - usually easy to root
* are very different in the capacity of both plants and flowers to withstand cold injury
  - popular flowering shrubs available in a terrific variety of colors
* attract a sucking insect called lacebug, especially in full sun locations.
* begin to produce the buds for next year soon after they finish blooming.
* burst into bright colors.
* can also adapt to extremes
  - be reluctant to grow out into the surrounding soil once they are planted
  - display a marvellous bright autumn color
* desire acidic soil.
* differ in their susceptibility to root rot.
* do best when grown in filtered sunlight and a highly organic soil
  - loose their leaves in winter while Rhododendrons stay evergreen
  - well when planted in fall
* exposed to full sun are more susceptible to lace bugs.
* get more hardy with age.
  - where they receive afternoon shade and prosper in well-mulched acidic soil
  - with a moderate level of fertility
* have a wide variety of flower colors including orange, yellow, red, pink and white
  - landscape uses
  - an extremely fibrous root system that remains relatively shallow
* have shallow root systems, so maintain moisture and apply fresh mulch yearly
  - roots and can easily be damaged by cultivation such as hoeing or raking
  - tubular funnel or funnel shaped flowers
* love acidic soil.
* planted in wet or waterlogged soils are prone to many root rot diseases.
* prefer a slightly acid, well-drained, fertile soil that stays evenly moist
  - morning sun and afternoon shade
* prefer partial shade to full sun
* prefer to be consistently moist
  - grow in light shade
* receiving some shade during the winter usually suffer less cold damage.
* require a lot of water, so make sure the medium is wet
  - acid soil and a constant water supply
  - an acid soil pH to grow properly
* serve as indicator plants for water stress.
* sometimes branch poorly and form a loose, open shrub.
* still blaze alongside homes reduced to splinters and piles of bricks.
* typically have flowers with five stamens and one style.

### plant | tracheophyte | bush | rhododendron | azalea:

Deciduous azalea
* are easier to grow than the evergreen types.
* require special techniques to root.

Dwarf azalea
* benefit from pruning by improving flower clusters and shape.
* work fine for rock gardens or low shrub ground covers.