Azaleas ( Rhododendron spp . ) , most of which grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture flora hardiness zone 7 through 9 , are a recurrent ducky among homeowner due to their colorful blooms and interesting foliation ; many also provide intense fall colors . Some confusion rise when classify azaleas , as they are in the same genus as rhododendron .
Step 1
Because azalea are closely related to rhododendrons , it is sometimes difficult for a layperson to secernate between the two . More than a thousand described mintage fall into this genus ; many are native to Asia , but several grow native in the United States . The plants in this genus have become a staple in nurseries and garden centers due to the demand for their showy and sometimes fragrant flower . While most azaleas grow in USDA zona 7 through 9 , many metal money and cultivars in the Rhododendron genus are much more frigid hardy .
Distinguishing Factors
In many cases , you could tell whether the plant in query is an azalea or rhododendron by looking at the flowers and leaves . allot to the Azalea Society of America , most azalea have only five or six stamen , while most rhododendrons have 10 . The parting of most azalea are thinner and softer , with a more distinctive point , than those of rhododendrons . If you still ca n’t tell , a magnifying glass can put up the solution : Azalea leave behind never have scales , while the leaves of small - leaved rhododendron always have scale of measurement .
Step 2
Further Classification
The genus Rhododendron is dissever into several subgenera , sections and subsections . Azaleas , for illustration , are either deciduous or evergreen plant . Deciduous azaleas go to the subgenus Pentanthera ; evergreen azaleas belong to the subgenus Tsutsusi . Other subgenus in the Rhododendron genus , which contains the rhododendron , include Azaleastrum , Candidastrum , Hymenanthes , Therorhodion and Mumeazalea .
Species and Hybrids
While the genus has over 1,000 discover plant , there are more than 10,000 register azalea cultivar due to cross . The dispute between a species and a hybrid is that a specie universe hybridise and produces true - from - germ issue . crossbreed , on the other manus , are often selectively bred by man , although hybridization can and does occur in nature . A species ' scientific name is always the genus followed by the species ; the name for southern indica azaleas , for example , is Rhododendron indica . When humans effectively create a hybrid , it is known as a cultivar , which simply think a cultivate multifariousness . A cultivar ’s scientific name is unremarkably written as genus , metal money , cultivar , with the cultivar name set off in quotation mark ; for example , the " George L. Taber " azalea is most often write as Rhododendron indica " George L. Taber . " This is a coarse , pink - bloomed cultivar that grows in USDA geographical zone 8 and 9 .
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