Monday, January 08, 2007
Azalea Ilam Red Frills
Ilam Red frills is another azalea on the orange side of red, and it's aptly named, with fabulous ruffled edges. Ilam was an old plantation in Christchurch, New Zealand; the original Ilam azaleas were actually crosses made of the deciduous azaleas at Exbury in England, and the seeds were sent to Ilam, where they were planted and the best of these plants were eventually released commercially; they are known for their large flowers and bright, flame colors. Ilam is now the site of Canterbury University, but the Ilam Botanical Gardens on the campus continue to be famous for their azaleas. Hybridizing continues there, with re-selection leading to the new Ilam Galaxy series; I have not yet laid my hands on any these newer hybrids, but I'm on the lookout. 
// posted by IBOY @ 7:28 PM 
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Sissy... nope; all the red azaleas i've been showing are deciduous. Evergreen azaleas are quite iffy here; their foliage gets damaged in winter, though I'm trying a new one reputed hardy.
Don
Don
Sissy... You're not only confused, you're repeating yourself! Taxonomically,all azaleas are rhododendrons, but because they look so different, the classification of azalea has been retained in common horticultural useage. (they started out as seperate species, but were lumped by taxonomists). There are some differences, though; azaleas have five lobes to their flowers, with one stamen per lobe; rhodys tend to have two stamens per lobe. All azaleas are elepidotes (no scales). The common big-leaved rhodys are also elepidotes, but there are lepidote, small-leaved rhodys. There are definite differences in the small hairs on the leaves, seen only under a lens, and some other differentiating points... but, in the end, azaleas are rhodys.
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