American Azaleas

by L. Clarence Towe

Book Overview

Other than a few Asiatic and one European species, North America is home to all the deciduous azaleas, members of the genus Rhododendron. There are native American azaleas suitable for a wide variety of garden environments. Gardeners interested in knowing more about these attractive, usually fragrant shrubs will discover here the diversity to be found in the species and will learn about recent trends in cultivation, selection, and hybridization. American azaleas are not used as much as they should be in gardens and in landscaping, even in areas where the plants are native and are common along roadsides. The author offers expert recommendations on all the horticultural aspects important for growing these colorful shrubs, including siting, soil preparation, and companion plantings. His coverage of the native species and the cultivars is comprehensive and up to date. The book provides all that the reader needs to enjoy the year-round pleasures offered by American azaleas.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0881926450
• ISBN13: 9780881926453
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Timber Press (OR)
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Good introduction to native azaleas

This book is a good introduction to native azaleas and is particularly helpful on distinguishing between the fifteen azalea species that grow in the U.S. Each species is described with a map indicating areas of the country where the plant originates. A 40-page section of beautiful color photos show each variety growing in the wild and in gardens. Other chapters include information on growing, collecting, landscaping and propagating azaleas. Appendices include sources for purchasing azaleas, organizations, registration forms for registering a new azalea and rhodendron name, illustrations of leave and flower types and a bibliography.

Wonderful World of Native American Azalea Species

What a wonderful book. The author has created a book that is easy to read, practical and informative. For those who are thinking about incorporating some native flowering shrubs into their garden or for those that are interested in Azaleas in general, this book is a must have. From a technical point of view, the author gives detailed information on propagation, planting and overall care of these plants. The photography gave a wonderful view of these native azaleas in their natural habitat as well as their tasteful placement in a naturalized garden. My favorite part of the book however was the in-depth discussion on hybridization of the native azaleas. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in native azaleas.