Rhododendron mucronulatum is commonly known as Korean azalea. It's a deciduous shrub that can grow to about 8' tall and wide, but at a slow rate of growth. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-7 it is one of the more hardy azaleas for us here in the northeast, and as you can see it is one of the earliest to bloom. These pictures were taken early before the sun was really up so I am not sure how well they show off the bright rosy purple of the blossoms. In the afternoon sun they really provide some pop from afar. And the overall habit of the shrub is quite nice, upright with nice clean branching and a decent rounded to oval shape.
So rhododendrons and azaleas are both in the genus
Rhododendron, but do you know the easy way of telling them apart? It's easy, just look at the stamens. The stamens are the male reproductive organs of a flower, in this case the long filaments with the little swollen anthers of pollen at the end of them. Examining the flower more closely, you will find that azalea flowers typically have a total of 10 stamens per flower where a rhododendron will typically only have five stamens per flower.
Pieris japonica is commonly known as andromeda or Japanese pieris. This is without a doubt a favorite broadleaf evergreen of mine. A slow grower of stiff branches and lustrous dark green leaves this upright shrub can get to 12' tall and 6-8' wide, but don't necessarily hold your breath. Plant in the protection of a little part shade so as not to invite lacebugs and Pieris will add nice medium texture to your garden through all the seasons. The long panicles of buds set in fall or winter will open to these long white blossoms in spring that have a great subtle fragrance. A member of the Ericaceae family these guys are comfortably hardy in zones 5-7.
Rhododendron mucronulatum is commonly known as Korean azalea. It's a deciduous shrub that can grow to about 8' tall and wide, but at a slow rate of growth. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-7 it is one of the more hardy azaleas for us here in the northeast, and as you can see it is one of the earliest to bloom. These pictures were taken early before the sun was really up so I am not sure how well they show off the bright rosy purple of the blossoms. In the afternoon sun they really provide some pop from afar. And the overall habit of the shrub is quite nice, upright with nice clean branching and a decent rounded to oval shape.
So rhododendrons and azaleas are both in the genus Rhododendron, but do you know the easy way of telling them apart? It's easy, just look at the stamens. The stamens are the male reproductive organs of a flower, in this case the long filaments with the little swollen anthers of pollen at the end of them. Examining the flower more closely, you will find that azalea flowers typically have a total of 10 stamens per flower where a rhododendron will typically only have five stamens per flower.
Pieris japonica is commonly known as andromeda or Japanese pieris. This is without a doubt a favorite broadleaf evergreen of mine. A slow grower of stiff branches and lustrous dark green leaves this upright shrub can get to 12' tall and 6-8' wide, but don't necessarily hold your breath. Plant in the protection of a little part shade so as not to invite lacebugs and Pieris will add nice medium texture to your garden through all the seasons. The long panicles of buds set in fall or winter will open to these long white blossoms in spring that have a great subtle fragrance. A member of the Ericaceae family these guys are comfortably hardy in zones 5-7.
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