Alaska Azalea
Azalea indica 'Alaska' (Rutherfordiana hybrid)
Outstanding bloomer displaying snow-white blooms with distinctive chartreuse blotch on throat. Useful as screens, hedges or showy landscape accents. Nice in containers. Evergreen.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | az-ZAY-lee-uh |
| Key feature: | Spring Flowering |
| Plant types: | Shrub, Rhododendron |
| Garden style: | Asian/Zen |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 9 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Filtered sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 14 - 24 |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Moderate growing to 3 to 5 ft. tall, 4 to 6 ft. wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Growth habit: | Round |
| Flower attribute: | Showy Flowers |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Container, Houseplant, Mass Planting, Specimen, Woodland Garden |
| Flower color: | White |
| Blooms: | Late winter to early spring |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 0440 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Provide well drained soil, rich in organic matter. Feed with an acid fertilizer after bloom. Keep roots cool with a thick layer of mulch. Pruning time: spring after flowering.
Design Ideas
An exceptional white azalea that's a stand out against red brick or dark green foliage plants. Add to front yard foundation planting for elegant color and neutral tones. Insert into shaded edges of large canopy shade trees or against the trunks of tree groves. A natural in Asian inspired gardens, particularly for the Japanese tea style.
Companion Plants
Group Alaska with more vivid azaleas such as Red Ruffles Azalea, (Azalea 'Red Ruffles') and Gumpo Pink Azalea, (Azalea 'Gumpo Pink'). Pair with other acid loves such as Springs Promise Ice Angels Camellia, (Camellia japonica 'Springs Promise') and Dwarf Purple Rhododendron, (Rhododendron impeditum).
History
The Belgian Indica hybrids were developed in Ghent, Belgium by breeders seeking a larger range of greenhouse stock for European florists. They used the evergreen azaleas, primarily R. indica and R. simsii, which had been bred for centuries in Japan. Early imports of the Belgian hybrids found favor in the deep south as outdoor plants. This is among the R. x rutherfordiana hybrids, which resulted from crosses of Japanese Kurume azaleas with the Belgian strains. This was the first white hybrid.
Lore
Though they are widely known as azaleas, this is actually a specialized group of plants under the genus Rhododendron.
Outstanding bloomer displaying snow-white blooms with distinctive chartreuse blotch on throat. Useful as screens, hedges or showy landscape accents. Nice in containers. Evergreen.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Provide well drained soil, rich in organic matter. Feed with an acid fertilizer after bloom. Keep roots cool with a thick layer of mulch. Pruning time: spring after flowering.
Design Ideas
An exceptional white azalea that's a stand out against red brick or dark green foliage plants. Add to front yard foundation planting for elegant color and neutral tones. Insert into shaded edges of large canopy shade trees or against the trunks of tree groves. A natural in Asian inspired gardens, particularly for the Japanese tea style.
Companion Plants
Group Alaska with more vivid azaleas such as Red Ruffles Azalea, (Azalea 'Red Ruffles') and Gumpo Pink Azalea, (Azalea 'Gumpo Pink'). Pair with other acid loves such as Springs Promise Ice Angels Camellia, (Camellia japonica 'Springs Promise') and Dwarf Purple Rhododendron, (Rhododendron impeditum).
History
The Belgian Indica hybrids were developed in Ghent, Belgium by breeders seeking a larger range of greenhouse stock for European florists. They used the evergreen azaleas, primarily R. indica and R. simsii, which had been bred for centuries in Japan. Early imports of the Belgian hybrids found favor in the deep south as outdoor plants. This is among the R. x rutherfordiana hybrids, which resulted from crosses of Japanese Kurume azaleas with the Belgian strains. This was the first white hybrid.
Lore
Though they are widely known as azaleas, this is actually a specialized group of plants under the genus Rhododendron.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | az-ZAY-lee-uh |
| Key feature: | Spring Flowering |
| Plant types: | Shrub, Rhododendron |
| Garden style: | Asian/Zen |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 9 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Filtered sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 14 - 24 |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Moderate growing to 3 to 5 ft. tall, 4 to 6 ft. wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Growth habit: | Round |
| Flower attribute: | Showy Flowers |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Container, Houseplant, Mass Planting, Specimen, Woodland Garden |
| Flower color: | White |
| Blooms: | Late winter to early spring |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 0440 |
