I wish you could see all the azaleas in bloom here in OKC! They're beautiful right now.

sara

Well, guess that answers my question on whether you can grow azaleas in OK City! :-)

I have a friend who lives in that area and wondered about it. We don't grow them near San Antonio...soil here is too alkaline and maybe it gets too hot. I know they grow in Houston and it is hot there. So what kind of soil and climate do azaleas need?

So you're in San Antonio? My sister lives in Fredericksburg.

I'm no authority on azaleas, I'm sure that there are others on this forum who are experienced azalea growers.
I've just been enjoying the colorful displays I've seen around.

I think, though, that most people site their azaleas in part shade, or on the north side of a house. I'm a student master gardener and we always recommend soil testing since soil in OKC varies so much. My soil is near neutral pH, while soil in other areas may be slightly alkaline. Some of the students in my class actually had slightly acid soil.

Azalea growers, chime in please!

sara

Thanks Sarab for the info on azaleas in the OK City area. Guess my friend should plant a few. Down here ( I don't live in San Antonio, but several miles north, but usually no one knows the place)azaleas are usually only potted plants. Home Depot sells them, but most of the plants don't live long. Up where I live the soil is nearly pure limestone.

I grow azaleas. I just amend the soil with peat moss and manure, and although I did not do this, I have heard it helps to throw in some composted bark. I have huge pine trees in my yard that shed needles constantly and I use them for mulch. I also fertilize in early spring and after bloom with acid fertilizer especially for azaleas, hydranges, and rhodies.

Last year, I cut down my pink azalea in the front to about 6" and this year it is again about 3-4' tall. It is very old, planted before I moved in. I have a pink roseum in the back yard. They do like some morning sun, but afternoon shade.

Lacebugs are the most common pest. I have to apply the insecticidal soap (like Safer's), two or three times, about a week or two apart and that usually does them in.

Azaleas need the cold period they get during the winter here, to do very well. The three I have are evergreen, but I think that the deciduous are available as well.

Susan

Thanks, Susan. I still wonder why azaleas can grow so well in Houston. It doesn't get very cold in the winter there...no colder than in the San Antonio area. I just love the way azaleas look....so pretty and dainty. Oh well...will have to visit OK to see some! :-)

Generally, Azalea prefers high acidity soil. If you can grow good blueberries, you can grow Azalea right next to them. Eastern Oklahoma is famous for both, too.

As a former Texas who did grow azaleas (but in Fort Worth, not in Houston) I'd like to chime in here.

Azaleas can be grown in many parts of Texas (although, MarZBaRRe, probably not in your part of Texas) if you simply give them what they need.

The need soil with a pH around 6.0

They need excellent drainage, which is best provided by giving them a raised bed with well-amended soil as Susan discussed in her post.

Also, they LOVE growing in dappled shade in the Texas/Oklahoma climate as it partially shelters them from the heat, but gives them enough sun to set flowers.

They especially love growing under tall oaks and pines, so I'm sure they love Susan's pines and pine needle mulch.

They love lots of moisture, but hate water-logged soil, which is why well-amended soil in raised beds is essential, especially in Houston, which receives so much rainfall.

I suspect Houston gets just enough "cold" (cold in their terms, not in ours) weather to keep the azaleas happy.

They also need to be mulched to keep their soil from drying out. I suspect, too, that Houston is just far enough east in Texas that they can grow azaleas there. I love the wild azaleas that grow farther east in East Texas' piney woods, even though they are not as showy as the cultivated types.

In Fort Worth, like in Houston, you will see many VERY OLD and very well-established azaleas in older neighborhoods and under the tall oaks at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. I love them. They are hard, if not impossible, to grow in the western, southern and northwestern parts of Texas that have more limey soil and less rain/shade.

Dawn

There is a neighborhood near Bethany that has tons of azaleas.
I heard there was a retired 'azalea grower' that lives in the neighborhood. His yard is full of big azaleas. Probably pretty old ones. He must have shared his plants with all his neighbors. Almost every yard has them.

I live in Bethany and I'm growing azaleas for the first time this year. We do have alot of pretty azaleas around here.

Exactly! Bethany gardeners do great azaleas! That's one area where I see so many every spring. Belle Isle is another.

I'd love to hear more about the retired azalea grower.

sara

There are some pretty azaleas on NW 50 about a block or so east of May Avenue. They are actually on the south side of the house, but shaded by a tree during mid day so get early morning sun only I would think. Don't know if the famed azalea man shared that far east, but they really are lovely.

Hi all - you should come to Muskogee about the second week of April for our Azalea Festival. It's worth the trip to see Honor Heights Park in the spring. check with our chamber of commerce next year for dates. Janet

There are a ton of azaleas growing in the Mesta Park and Crown Heights areas, too.

Isn't there someplace in Oklahoma that has an azalea festival in spring?

When I lived in Dallas, there were a lot of very old, very large azaleas growing in the older part of Dallas, close to the downtown area, where Ross Perot lives.

When I think of azaleas and rhododendrons, though, I always think of Georgia, where they grow so beautifully, native and non.

Susan