Azaleas vs. Rhododendrons
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If you’re unsure of the difference between azaleas and rhododendrons, you’re definitely not alone. After all, you may have heard the phrase all azaleas are rhododendrons, but not all rhododendrons are azaleas. But what does this mean for your garden? In this article, we’ll talk about how to distinguish one from another and what conditions each one requires.
Visual Details
Though the plants are similar, there are details you can look for to tell which one you’re looking at. Find photo examples below:
Stamen Count
Azaleas typically have five stamens* and rhododendrons have ten. The number can vary a bit, depending on the cultivar, but you can generally count on an azalea having fewer stamens and a rhododendron having more. Fun fact: stamens are the more plentiful slender plant parts that have pollen at the tips.
* Stamens are the more plentiful slender plant parts that have pollen at the tips. The pistil is at the very center and is typically longer and a bit thicker.
Foliage
The physical appearances of the foliage on these plants are opposites! Azaleas have small, fuzzy leaves, and rhododendrons have longer, thick leaves. Rhododendrons are consistently evergreen. Azaleas can be evergreen, deciduous, or semi-evergreen, which means that they may drop some interior foliage in cooler climates over the winter.
Bloom Arrangement
While, at first glance, the flowers look identical, there are subtle differences you’ll notice when you look closely. Each azalea flower typically has its own stem, and altogether, it looks like the flowers are spread more evenly across the habit. Rhododendron flowers are arranged in clusters at the end of a branch, giving the shrub a flower arrangement-like look.
Overall Size
Although mature sizes vary from cultivar to cultivar, azaleas are generally smaller than rhododendrons.
Growing Conditions + Care
To put it simply, azaleas are more heat-tolerant, while rhododendrons respond better to cool temperatures. They are both happiest when growing with some shade. Both plants form their flowers on old wood, so they shouldn’t be pruned. However, azaleas can rebloom on new wood, like the prolific Perfecto Mundo® series.
Now that you’ve looked at several examples of differences between the azaleas and rhododendrons, you'll be able to advise your clients on which fits their landscape plan best.
