Azalea Apple Blossom
Azalea Apple Blossom is a compact evergreen azalea grown for its two-tone single pink flowers, each one white blushed with soft pink at the edges. The blooms open in spring and cover the plant in a clean, delicate display. It holds a tidy rounded habit and matures to around 0.6 to 1m high and wide, making it well suited to smaller spaces and containers.
This azalea fits naturally into a cottage garden or a Japanese-style planting. Use several plants together for a massed display, or position one as a soft focal point in a shaded border. The pale pink tones pair well with deeper pink or white azaleas planted nearby.
Grow Azalea Apple Blossom in part shade, or in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. It needs free-draining, acidic soil with good organic matter worked through at planting. Mulch around the base to keep the shallow roots cool and retain moisture. Avoid exposed, dry positions.
Water regularly through the first summer and during any dry period thereafter. Feed with an azalea and camellia fertiliser in spring. Like all azaleas and rhododendrons, this plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if eaten, so take care in pet households.
Trimming: Trim lightly straight after flowering in late spring to maintain a tidy shape. Azaleas flower on old wood, so avoid hard pruning. Remove any dead or crossing branches at the same time.
Deadheading: Deadheading is not essential. You can remove spent blooms by hand to neaten the plant, but leaving them does no harm.
Fertilising: Feed in spring with a fertiliser formulated for azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons. A light second application after flowering supports new growth. Avoid over-feeding, as the roots are shallow and sensitive.
Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged. Water deeply through summer and during dry spells. A layer of mulch helps retain moisture and protects the shallow root system.
Pest Control: Watch for aphids, thrips, two-spotted mite, and scale insects. Check the undersides of leaves regularly and treat early with a suitable spray or horticultural oil.
Disease Management: Free-draining soil and good airflow prevent most problems. Wet or heavy soil invites Phytophthora root rot, so avoid waterlogged conditions. Clear fallen leaves and spent flowers to reduce the risk of petal blight and leaf gall. Pick off any pale swollen galls and bin them.
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For orders below $250, the following flat-rate delivery charges are applicable:
- Urban delivery within mainland New Zealand: $19.95
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