Cheap Azalea, in the ground!

[ducks4you]

Bought this for $5 the other day. Thought I'd share. Hope it survives...

 

[Detlor Poultry]

I have two Azaleas that are wild - Yes, wild azaleas in zone 3b. Well, they're not specifically azaleas, but they're Rhododendrons (as I understand it, that is a very broad genus).
Plum Sallow (Rhododendron principes) is usually seen as a tiny one-branch, flowerless plant on roadsides. If left to grow (although it takes a while) It becomes a marvelous (and poisonous) tree. It's flowers resemble (more'picture-perfect') Plum flowers (white that blushes to pink), and it's leaves resemble the leaves of Saskatoons and Sallows. The berries are bright orange. It's beautiful, but sadly, I must give it to a friend.... It is incredibly poisonous (even more than Buttercups) so I must get rid of it before it gets rid of my small stock.

 

[lesa]

Ducks, it certainly looks healthy enough! I never feel I can breathe a sign of relief until they make it through one winter... but for 5 bucks, how wrong can you go??

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Good luck I used to try to buy them but they never made it through our winters. When we lived in GA they were everywhere and so beautiful. I hope they make it for you.

 

[swampducks]

What's the usual farthest north zone for azaleas? I'm tired of stuff getting nipped in the bud by late frosts, buddleia won't grow here in zone 4, my sister had nice bushes in zone 5 in central MA. I never looked into them because I know deer eat them but with my 2 dogs the deer seem to have decided to stop hitting my front yard for munchies. I'd love an azalea or two.

 

[ducks4you]

It's in my rose bed, which gets hand-tilled up and amended with FRESH horse manure every year. Do you think it's humousy enough? Thanks for the well-wishers. For $5, it's worth a try.

 

[ducks4you]

UPdate: Well, the flowers have fallen off. There is a little new, healthy leaf growth, but I think it's busy growing roots. I water it 5-7 days a week bc I want it to survive.

 

[catjac1975]

That seems like a lot of watering. Be careful of too much.

 

[ducks4you]

I will do that. I'll take some pictures tonight to show how how it's looking, too.

 

[ducks4you]

Whatcha think?