Mollis Azalea are a deciduous azalea with showy yellow through to red flowers on bare stems in early summer. They do well in cooler climates and cope well in part shade. Different varieties will have flower colors from near White to Yellow, Orange, Pink and Red.
These are hybrid varieties of R. molle ssp. japonicum although other species are represented as well.
Care
Mollis azaleas do well in a shaded position, a well drained moist humus rich soil. Mollis azaleas can make a great focal point in a shady border or in a woodland setting. Mollis Azaleas can also do well in a pot.
You will find Mollis azaleas for sale in nurseries when in flower in spring, however we would try to plant them before this in Australia.
These are a plant that can be grown in containers, you will need a a good sized pot and a good quality potting mix. One of the major problems with container growing is that the pots can heat up and the cool root run that Mollis Azaleas love quickly disappears. Try to keep the pots themselves in shade, and water during the warmer months to avoid this.
If you are growing in the garden try mulching every spring adding a little well rotted compost and animal manure. Some blood and bone and a liquid seaweed fertilizer every spring will also help. Some slow release general purpose fertiliser as well. In containers use a slow release fertilizer.
Varieties
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‘Buzzard’
Yellow to red fragrant flowers an a small bush to 1.5m in height. -
Homebush is a ‘Knaphill’ variety with tight heads of pink flowers.
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Rhododendron schlippenbachii is a fragrant pink flowering variety.
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‘Golden Eagle’
Very bright orange flowers flushed with apricot. Tall growing to over 2 metres in height in good conditions. -
‘Les’s Penny’
Attractive fringed orange flowers on a smaller bush to around 1.5 metres in height -
‘Tanager’- Deep Orange flowers
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‘Queen Emma’ – Very attractive deep salmon pink to orange flowers
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‘Gibraltar’ – Attractive fringed or frilled orange flowers with a touch of orange.
Pruning
Generally little to no pruning as these are a well behaved plant. You may wish to prune to shape or remove dead wood, best done in winter.
Problems
- Yellowing foliage indicates an alkaline soil, Mollis azalaeas prefer a little acidity.
- Lack of flowers in generally due to to much shade.
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Available for sale from the following growers
