Ep. 251 Celebrating the Year of the Azalea and Talking How to Grow Them | #GoodGrowing
The National Garden Bureau has named 2026 the Year of the Azalea! Ken, Emily, and Chris are digging into what makes these colorful (and sometimes finicky) plants so popular.
In this episode of the Good Growing podcast, we break down everything you need to know about azaleas—from their connection to rhododendrons to how to grow them successfully in the Midwest. If you’ve ever wondered why azaleas struggle in Illinois landscapes (or if they’re even worth trying), this episode is for you.
Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Tvg7VoiBmgc
00:30 Hey Ken
01:07 Hey Emily!
01:42 Topic of the week: Year of the azalea according to the National Garden Bureau
03:13 Rhododendron vs, Azalea, which is which?
05:44 Groups of azalea: Tsutsusi and pentanthera
07:19 Native deciduous azalea vs non-native evergreen azalea
07:42 History of breeding azalea
10:16 Growing requirement for azalea
14:52 Site selection and species/cultivar selection
18:59 Insects and disease challenges with azaleas
22:24 Pollinators and azalea
23:51 Phytopthora root rot and soil pH issues
25:10 Back to pollinators on azalea
26:06 Describing 10 azaleas native to Eastern North America
27:08 Alabama Azalea
29:12 Coastal Azalea
30:11 Florida Azalea
32:13 Flame Azalea
33:04 Piedmont or Mountain Azalea
33:35 Oconee Azalea (also goes by Peidmont azalea in some areas but is a different species)
34:14 Pinxterbloom Azalea
35:13 Rochelle/Early/Plumleaf Azalea
36:44 Pink Shell Azalea
37:28 Swamp Azalea
39:19 Would we grow azaleas in our yard?
42:34 What type of azalea might you find in an Illinois nursery?
44:32 Azaleas at Augusta Golf Course
Contact us!
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu
Emily Swihart eswihart@illinois.edu
Like what you hear? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe
Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us
In this episode of the Good Growing podcast, we break down everything you need to know about azaleas—from their connection to rhododendrons to how to grow them successfully in the Midwest. If you’ve ever wondered why azaleas struggle in Illinois landscapes (or if they’re even worth trying), this episode is for you.
Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Tvg7VoiBmgc
00:30 Hey Ken
01:07 Hey Emily!
01:42 Topic of the week: Year of the azalea according to the National Garden Bureau
03:13 Rhododendron vs, Azalea, which is which?
05:44 Groups of azalea: Tsutsusi and pentanthera
07:19 Native deciduous azalea vs non-native evergreen azalea
07:42 History of breeding azalea
10:16 Growing requirement for azalea
14:52 Site selection and species/cultivar selection
18:59 Insects and disease challenges with azaleas
22:24 Pollinators and azalea
23:51 Phytopthora root rot and soil pH issues
25:10 Back to pollinators on azalea
26:06 Describing 10 azaleas native to Eastern North America
27:08 Alabama Azalea
29:12 Coastal Azalea
30:11 Florida Azalea
32:13 Flame Azalea
33:04 Piedmont or Mountain Azalea
33:35 Oconee Azalea (also goes by Peidmont azalea in some areas but is a different species)
34:14 Pinxterbloom Azalea
35:13 Rochelle/Early/Plumleaf Azalea
36:44 Pink Shell Azalea
37:28 Swamp Azalea
39:19 Would we grow azaleas in our yard?
42:34 What type of azalea might you find in an Illinois nursery?
44:32 Azaleas at Augusta Golf Course
Contact us!
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu
Emily Swihart eswihart@illinois.edu
Like what you hear? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe
Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
--
You can find us on most podcast platforms.
iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377
Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR
Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/
Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/
Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902
Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us
Creators and Guests
Host
Chris Enroth
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties
Host
Ken Johnson
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott Counties
