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Pinxter azalea is an open, rather loose deciduous shrub which grows in an upright, many branched bush, 6-15 ft (1.8-4.6 m) tall and about as wide. It slowly forms clumps by sending up suckers from underground runners. Fragrant, very showy pink flowers appear at stem ends in early spring, about the time the leaves come out. The leaves are alternate, 1-3 in (1.5-7.6 cm) long, and have short hairs on the margins. The flowers are tubular, 2-3 in (5-7.6 cm) long, spreading out into five narrow petal lobes. The pistil and stamens extend in graceful curves beyond the corolla.
Location
Light: You can grow pinxter azalea in partial to nearly full shade, or in full sun. It will be bushier the more sun it gets. Moisture: Pinxter azalea does best in slightly moist soils. It suffers during droughts. Hardiness: USDA Zones 6-9. Propagation: Propagate this deciduous azalea by dividing the clumps or by rooting cuttings in summer.
Usage
There are some 800 species of Rhododendron, mostly native to southeastern Asia, with about 30 species in North America. However, no fewer than 3000 different varieties, cultivars and hybrids are cultivated as ornamentals in the U.S. The common names, "azalea" and "rhododendron" are often interchanged, but some would restrict "azalea" to those species whose flowers have 5 stamens and use "rhododendron" for the species with 10 or more stamens. Most gardeners use "azalea" for those plants with deciduous leaves and funnel shaped flowers, and "rhododendron" for those with evergreen foliage and larger, bell shaped flowers. Needless to say, the distinctions are not always reliable. Florida's native azaleas include, but are not limited to, R. austrinum (flame azalea), an Endangered Species which blooms bright orange and is very early flowering; and R. viscosum, or swamp azalea, which is evergreen and blooms in the summer with small white flowers. Steve Christman 12/04/00; updated 03/21/03, 12/28/03, 4/14/05
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