(Mt. Amagi Azalea)

Rounded leaves are an interesting foil behind the fuchsia-orange flowers in early summer on Rhododendron amagianum, the Mt. Amagi azalea. Native to the Japanese island of Honshu, it is endangered as the decidous woodlands in which it grows are becoming more scarce. This upright deciduous shrub has a slightly spreading shape. In a garden setting it is slow to produce flowers until well-established and aged.

Whorled clusters of three rounded rhombus-shaped leaves are found at branch tips....

(Amelia Rose Azalea, Evergreen Azalea)

One of more than 30 evergreen azaleas developed and named by Gene and Jane Aromi of Mobile, Alabama, 'Amelia Rose' bears showy clusters of large deep purple-red double flowers in early to mid-spring. The flowers are hose-in-hose (with "stacked" whorls of petals) and have a dark red eye blotch. This dense rounded head-high shrub has medium-sized elliptic dark-green leaves. This azalea prefers partial shade and highly organic acid soil that is evenly moist but well drained. Plant it shallowly and...

(America Rhododendron, Rhododendron)

Introduced in the early twentieth century and still valued for its exceptional hardiness and showy flowers, this hybrid rhododendron bears compact spherical trusses of blue-tinged red flowers in late spring. The funnel-shaped blooms have a dark red blotch. The long leaves are a dull medium-green. This cultivar eventually forms a large loose sprawling shrub that becomes sparser and laxer with increasing shade.

Although most rhododendrons prefer partial shade and highly organic acid soil that...

(Amethystinum Azalea, Azalea)

The Mucronatum group comprises hybrids of Rhododendron 'Murcronatum', a white-flowered azalea of obscure origin from Japan. They are slow-growing evergreen to semi-evergreen shrubs with upright branches and hairy oval leaves. A well known member of this group is 'Delaware Valley White', which is often planted to bring light to shady areas of the garden. These azaleas prefer medium sun to shade and well-drained, humus-rich, acid soil. They are versatile in the landscape, doing and looking well in...

(Amoenum Azalea, Evergreen Azalea)

Introduced to the West from Japan in 1845, this close relative of the Kurume azaleas bears vivid magenta-purple flowers in mid-spring. The semi-double blooms are hose-in-hose (with two "stacked" whorls of petals). The small oval semi-evergreen leaves are glossy dark green. This rather slow-growing cultivar can eventually form a large shrub.

As with the Kurume Hybrids, 'Amoenum' has Rhododendron kaempferi, R. kiusianum, and other Japanese species in its ancestry....

(Amy Azalea, Evergreen Azalea)

An evergreen azalea with close ties to the Kurume Hybrids, 'Amy' bears large soft pink flowers with red-speckled upper lobes from early to mid-spring. The semi-double blooms are hose-in-hose (with two "stacked" whorls of petals). The small oval leaves are glossy dark green. This cultivar slowly forms a dense rounded shoulder-high shrub.

Azaleas prefer partial shade and highly organic acid soil that is evenly moist but well-drained. Plant them shallowly and mulch well to conserve moisture...

(Amy Cotta Rhododendron, Rhododendron)

A dwarf mutation of the famous hybrid rhododendron 'PJM', ‘Amy Cotta’ grows slowly to form a dense symmetrical evergreen shrub. Clusters of small, lavender-pink, funnel-shaped flowers envelop the compact mounded plants in early spring. The small, oval, shiny dark green leaves turn burgundy and purple in winter. They emit a spicy fragrance when bruised.

This cultivar prefers light shade and highly organic, acid soil that is evenly moist but well-drained. It does well in full sun in cooler climates....

(Anah Kruschke Rhododendron, Rhododendron)

A hybrid of Rhododendron ponticum, 'Anah Kruschke' is a beautiful rounded evergreen shrub which is densely clothed in large shiny dark green foliage. Masses of deep reddish-purple flowers appear in ball-shaped clusters (trusses) from mid- to late-spring. The funnel-shaped blooms have a burgundy blotch.

Although most rhododendrons prefer partial shade and highly organic acid soil that is evenly moist but well-drained, ‘Anah Kruschkle’ does well in considerable sun. Plant rhododendrons...

(Ann Bedford Rhododendron, Rhododendron)

The hybrid rhododendron 'Ann Bedford' bears rounded clusters of purple flowers in spring. This evergreen shrub has large elliptic dark green leaves.

Like most rhododendrons, 'Ann Bedford' favors chilly winters, moderate summers, and well-drained, humus-rich, acid soil. Plant it shallowly and mulch well to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Do any necessary pruning directly after the flowers fade, before new flower buds form. Try to site it where it has room to grow to full size.

This...

(Rhododendron)

Vigorous and fast-growing, this large hybrid rhododendron bears imposing spherical clusters of immense rose-pink blooms from mid- to late spring. The wide-flaring, funnel-shaped blooms have brown-spotted upper lobes. This broad-spreading shrub has long elliptic olive-green leaves.

Like most rhododendrons, 'Anna Rose Whitney' does well in partial shade and highly organic, well-drained, acid soil. It departs from the norm, however, in tolerating full sun. Plant it shallowly and mulch well to...