Delaware Valley White Azalea for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on September 16, 2022

Planting instructions

One of the most important factors when choosing a growing location for a Delaware Valley White Azalea is soil drainage. You should never plant this cultivar in an area where the soil is heavy and fails to drain excess water efficiently. This plant is less picky about sunlight, as it can grow in both full sun and partial shade. To plant a Delaware Valley White Azalea, start by digging a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root ball and as deep as the root ball is tall.

Watering and nutrients

Most Delaware Valley White Azaleas should receive water about two to three times per month. However, if you live in the warmer parts of this plant’s growing range, you may need to water as often as once per week. This is also true if your plant experiences a heatwave or a drought, regardless of the growing location. Start feeding your Delaware Valley White Azalea during the bloom period with a balanced fertilizer that encourages soil acidity. Repeat this feeding about four times during the rest of spring and summer for the best results.

Pollination

The flowers of the Delaware Valley White Azalea contain both male and female structures, which allows for self-pollination. However, these structures are relatively far from one another compared to the sexual structures of other flowers. As such, smaller insects like bees are not often capable of pollinating these flowers. Instead, the Delaware Valley White Azalea will rely on larger pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds to spread its pollen. With that said, pollination is not a common goal for this plant as the species does not produce fruits that humans regularly consume.

Pruning

There is a relatively short timeframe in which it is best to prune a Delaware Valley White Azalea. Each year, you should wait until the flowers fade before you prune. However, you should not wait so long that the next year’s buds set on the plant. So, your pruning should take place sometime during late spring or early summer. When pruning, all you need to do is focus on removing any dead, damaged or diseased limbs.

Pests and diseases

The Delaware Valley White Azalea is vulnerable to several pests and diseases. In the former case, several common garden insects, including aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, lace bugs and others may infest this plant. On the disease side, your Delaware Valley White Azalea may contract powdery mildew, rust or root rot. The last of these diseases is often preventable as it arises when an azalea lives in soils that have poor drainage. Plant your Delaware Valley White Azalea where the soil drains well and remain vigilant for signs of pests or infections to keep it in good health.

Achieving maximum results

Some gardeners are surprised when they find that their Delaware Valley White Azalea loses some or most of its leaves during fall and winter and wonder if their plant is in poor condition. However, rather than being fully evergreen, the Delaware Valley White Azalea is actually a semi-evergreen plant, meaning that its foliage may change colors and drop if you live where the winters are cold. However, if you live in a region with warm winters, you should consider leaf drop to be a sign of disease or improper care.

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