Azalea Dancer
Azalea Dancer is an evergreen azalea with salmon pink semi-double flowers that open reliably each spring. The blooms have a layered, open form that gives the plant a soft, relaxed look through the flowering season from September into October. It grows to around 1 to 1.5m high and wide, making it a useful mid-sized shrub for a range of garden situations.
This azalea suits a cottage garden, a Japanese-style planting, or a mixed shrub border. Plant several together for a massed display of colour, or use a single specimen to brighten a shaded corner. The salmon pink tone pairs well with white, cream, or deep red azaleas planted nearby.
Grow Azalea Dancer in part shade or morning sun with afternoon shade. It does best in free-draining, acidic soil enriched with compost. Mulch around the base to keep the shallow roots cool and retain moisture. Avoid exposed, dry positions, which put the plant under stress.
Trim lightly after flowering and water regularly through dry spells, especially in the first summer after planting. 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 immediately after flowering in late October or November to maintain a tidy shape. Azaleas flower on old wood, so avoid cutting back hard. Remove any dead, weak, or crossing stems at the same time.
Deadheading: Deadheading is not essential. You can remove spent blooms by hand to neaten the plant after flowering, but leaving them does no harm and the plant will perform well either way.
Fertilising: Feed in early spring with a fertiliser formulated for azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons. A second light feed after flowering supports new growth. Avoid overfeeding, as the shallow roots are sensitive to excess nutrients.
Watering: Water regularly through the first summer to help the plant establish. In subsequent years, water deeply during dry spells in summer and autumn. Mulch the root zone to hold moisture and keep roots cool.
Pest Control: Watch for aphids, thrips, two-spotted mite, and scale insects. Check the undersides of leaves regularly and treat early with a suitable insecticide or horticultural oil to prevent populations building up.
Disease Management: Ensure free-draining soil and good airflow around the plant to reduce disease risk. Wet or heavy soil invites Phytophthora root rot. Clear fallen leaves and spent flowers to lower the chance of petal blight taking hold.
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- Urban delivery within mainland New Zealand: $19.95
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