Spring’s first burst of color at its peak
Houston area celebrates an early spring with a burst of colorful blooms
H HOUSTON is at its prettiest when the azaleas are in bloom. That blanket of pink, magenta and coral doesn’t last long, so we get out and enjoy it while we can. With this year’s early spring, many azaleas have popped and are peaking; others have already bloomed out. For those who have already seen the show and want to try azaleas in their own garden, the time to plant is now.
If you haven’t yet experienced the stately beauty of the azaleas, next weekend’s River Oaks Garden Club Azalea Trail should offer some inspiration. The bushes at Bayou Bend Gardens, one of the stops on the trail, are labeled so you can pick your favorite variety.
Azaleas offer spring color and year-round greenery, and they are relatively carefree.
Most varieties in our area are Indicas, or Southern Indian azaleas, which means they grow large and are hardy in USDA Zones 7 to 9. For example, the ‘Formosa’ can grow 7 feet tall and wide. They vary in height, so check to see how large each type will be at maturity before planting. Azaleas like Houston’s humidity. But the soil here does not generally have enough acidity for the shrubs. They may need a light application
of azalea-camellia fertilizer to correct.
Plant them in raised beds that provide good drainage, and mulch twice a year to maintain a slight acidity.
The best time to plant is early spring; they set their buds for the next season in late spring and summer. Prune right after spring blooming, before they set their new growth and buds. Water them well, especially during the summer heat.
Most azaleas prefer light to moderate shade, but some can tolerate sunnier spots.
Best Bets
Here are some of the best bets for the Houston area, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Harris County Office:
‘Mrs. G.G. Gerbing’: Tall, white-flowering Indica azalea. Can tolerate fairly sunny spots.
‘George L. Tabor’: Indica that produces a pale lavender-pink flower with darker pink markings. Can tolerate some sun.
‘Coral Bells’: Small, single coral flower blooms in early to midspring. Can tolerate moderate to full sun.
‘Daphne Salmon’: Salmon pink single flower blooms in midspring. Likes moderate to full sun.
‘Formosa’: A tall shrub with deep-purplemagenta blooms. Can tolerate sun.
‘Judge Solomon’: Deep pink with redviolet flowers blooms midseason. Plant in moderate to full sun.
‘Fashion’: Smaller shrub with red-orange blooms in spring and fall. Prefers shade.
‘Pink Ruffles’: Smaller shrub with semidouble blooms. Prefers shade.
Encore series: Includes 23 cultivars in a variety of colors with smallish blooms. The repeat bloomers offer flowers spring through fall.