Deb Brown, here, on azaleas and other so-called "shade" plants:
When the "Lights" series of azaleas were first developed, the Arb planted
them in dappled shade. However, they now realize that the plants grow and
bloom better in sun. They have planted many in full sun from morning 'til
dusk, and they are thriving. I agree with the Master Gardener who said the
shade thing was a carry-over from how azaleas are planted in the south....
Apparently it's just too hot in full sunlight there.
As for shade or shade tolerant plants, it's a mixed bag. Some do fine in
sun, but need more moisture to keep from wilting (impatiens, for instance.)
Others fade or sunburn when exposed to intense sunlight (woodland ferns,
many coleus.) It really varies.
Technically, when I see the term "full sun" I think of a minimum of 5 to 6
hours of sunlight, much of which is over the midday and afternoon hours,
when sunlight is most intense. Full sun plants that receive less than that
amount of light tend to grow taller and thinner, plus their bloom is
usually more sparse... sometimes considerably more sparse.
>
>These comments make me wonder if azaleas are really shade plants. I
remember Mike
>Zins at an MG training session showing the "hedge" he had of mature
Northern Lights
>that were in full sun and at least seven feet tall. All the ones I've seen
in my
>neighborhood that are doing the best seem to be pretty much in full sun.
>I have the same reservation about recommending hydrangea for shade. I grew an
>"Annabelle" for years on the east side of my house where it got morning
sun. It grew
>just fine, but when the balls of flowers developed the branches inevitably
sagged
>and then collapsed. Yet when I walked around the neighborhood I saw the
same plant
>growing on the south side of houses in full sun, carrying their blooms
high and dry!
>
>I dug up my Annabelle and gave it to a friend at work. She has it in full
sun, where
>it holds those huge blooms right up in the air.
>Comments or insights?
>MJ
>Henn Cty MG
>
>Grace Anderson wrote:
>
>> Paula!
>> I am saying that I "made" my Rosy lights open and oriental on purpose...I
>> moved mine from behind full grown yews where they were languishing from
the
>> landscape having matured around them. I put them in a south east location
>> under my mature Northstar cherry, 15 feet tall. They bloomed reasonably
>> this first year after the move and have sort of leafed out. I'm giving
them
>> a shot of Miracid as we speak.
>> Grace A
>> Hennepin County
>>
>> > I have recent experience with moving Azaleas. Due to construction
planned for
>> > this spring, I had to move a small garden at the end of last summer.
It was
>> > not a time I would have chosen to move things - different plants went to
>> > different locations, and there were some losses, but the 2 'Rosy Lights'
>> > Azaleas are just fine.
>> >
>> > They were about 10 years old, and 3-4 feet high, and they had been
growing in
>> > deep shade. The roots were interesting. They were very shallow and
covered
>> > an area about half the size of the tops. The only special treatment they
>> > received was a little extra wood chip mulch around the base, since
they tended
>> > to dry out quickly in their new site.
>> >
>> > I was one of the foolhardy gardeners who stopped watering at the
normal time
>> > and I was sure these were goners. However, they even bloomed this
spring!
>> > Now, that's a tough plant. Because they had been in shade, they had
developed
>> > a lovely open shape, almost oriental looking.
>> >
>> > Paula Denman
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Paul and Peggy
>> > To: Master Gardener List Serve
>> > Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 6:31 AM
>> > Subject: [Mastgar] Azalea
>> >
>> >
>> > When is the best time to move Azalea's? I have 3 of the Northern Lights
>> > variety. After the spring discussion from this group about their
needing more
>> > sun, I realized mine don't bloom much, if at all, and are in almost total
>> > shade. Do they transplant well, or are they best left where they are
& buy
>> > new ones?
>> >
>> > Thanks!
>> >
>> > Peggy Palmes
>> > Becker County
>> >
>>
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