Includes about 800 species of plants, including azaleas. Among the most popular are Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel) and Pieris japonica (Japanese andromeda) whose particularly attractive blooms overlap with those of Rhododendrons and Azaleas and create a spectacular floral display. Moreover, the drainage of the soil is also better, because the plants are afraid of ponding. The strongly-veined, dark green foliage turns burgundy red to purplish red in fall. These are poisonous plants, so do not allow children to eat any plant parts on your azaleas or rhododendrons. The broad oval green leaves turn eye-catching shades of yellow and orange in fall. And Rhododendrons (including Azaleas) are one of those shrubs that I love to have in my garden…beautiful blooms, many are evergreen and like shade, some are fragrant, and all are easy to maintain. The same cultural practices may also be applied to blueberries, pieris, heather, holly and other plants that prefer acid, organic soils. Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Reed University: Ericaceae Family of Plants, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Ericaceae Classification, U.S. National Arboretum: USDA Growing Zones Interactive Map. With four seasons of interest, Viburnum trilobum 'Redwing' (American Cranberrybush) is a lovely addition to the landscape. Another cause of rhododendron death is lack of water. For me, they are the perfect plant! They come in many flower colors, including pink, red, … This giant group of plants has about 800 species and more than 10,000 named varieties, according to the "1997 Sunset National Garden Book." It is a great candidate for mass plantings, hedges, mixed shrub borders, as a backdrop or accent plant. Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a more elegant version of the azalea or rhododendron that has cup-shaped blooms with five star-like points around the rim. One of its most attractive characteristics is to produce great blooms in shady locations. There are many other varieties suitable for companion planting with your Azaleas and Rhododendrons, so don’t be afraid to experiment and find your own successful plant combinations! Noted for its abundant flowering, the quality of its foliage and its pleasant fall colors, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida' is one of the most popular hybrid witch hazels and one of the finest winter-flowering shrubs. In the fall, the handsome foliage of relatively large, maple-like, dark green leaves, turns occasionally bright yellow-red or rich reddish purple. Inside these flowers the petals are marked with brown dots that look like sprinklings of nutmeg. Rhododendron flowers have 10 stamens, while azaleas have five stamens. In mid-spring, this small, multi-stemmed, semi-evergreen shrub produces striking pendulous clusters of golden-yellow flowers. (30 cm), in late spring and early summer. Find a rhododendron or azalea that is a bit harder to come by. Azaleas prefer an acidic soil (with a pH of 5.5 – 6.0) so in areas with alkaline (basic) soil, apply some Yates Soil Acidifier Liquid Sulfur to reduce the soil pH. The Rhododendron genus comprises both azalea and rhododendron species. Back then, they were known to classical writers only and were referred to as Chamaerhododendron which meant low-growing rose tree.Rhododendrons were first introduced in Britain in 1656. If you prefer smaller plant species, like flowers and shrubs, choose companion plants that prefer partial shade. Various charming shrubs work well when grown as companion plants to Rhododendrons and Azaleas. To achieve this you may need to apply Yates Soil Acidifier Liquid Sulfur to lower the pH of the soil. Introduced in 1979 by the U.S. National Arboretum. The handsome foliage of ovate, finely toothed, glossy dark green leaves turns attractive shades of yellow, red, and purple in fall. They are followed by abundant, juicy and edible blue berries in summer - a delight for birds, wildlife and humans alike! in 2 litre pots. This plant will regularly also flower in the autumn. Prized for its profusion of sweetly fragrant flowers and its lovely fall colors, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane' (Witch Hazel) is a very eye-catching winter-flowering shrub. Producing a blaze of color, these popular ornamental shrubs are, however showy for only a relatively short season when in bloom. plant with azaleas and rhododendrons. Rhododendron leaves are longer than Mountain laurel leaves. Most plants in this family prefer acidic soil and are evergreen. Check these Great Plant Combination 0-1ft; 1-2ft; 2-3ft; Flower Colour . USDA 5-9. Fragrant, they attract pollinators before giving way to clusters of dark blue-purple, edible berries in late summer. Mountain laurel spreads by sending up suckers. 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