Like nearly all shrubs, azaleas are best planted in the spring, but fall is also an acceptable time—and it can be the most economical time, as garden centers are sometimes closing out stock at this time of year. ‘Stewartstonian’ is a slow-growing shrub that can take a few years to achieve mature size, but once established it can last for 40 years or more.
Light
Plant this azalea in a part-shade location in the southern part of its range. In colder northern regions, it will do well in full sun.
Soil
Enrich the ground (and improve its drainage at the same time) by mixing in generous amounts of decomposed organic matter. These plants prefer acidic soil (pH 5.0 to 5.5), which may require amendment with sulfur, peat moss, or pine needles; or feeding with an acidifying fertilizer. This plant is exceedingly fussy about its soil and will fail to thrive if the pH and basic soil nutrients aren’t to its liking. This shrub will die if exposed to the soil toxins produced by trees in the walnut family.
Water
Make sure the shrub’s soil gets consistent moisture—a total of roughly 1 inch per week, preferably in at least two separate waterings. The roots on azaleas should never be allowed to dry out. You must keep the soil moist for this plant throughout the growing season, and applying mulch will help retain the soil moisture it needs.
Temperature and Humidity
‘Stewartstonian’ is well suited for the climate variations found in USDA zones 5 to 8. These plants don’t grow well if subjected to prolonged temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and may die out if winter temps fall below about minus-5 degrees. Azaleas typically don’t react well to extremely dry environments. In dryer climates, it helps to increase watering, especially as the plant heads into the winter months.
Fertilizer
Fertilize this plant annually with compost. If necessary to lower soil pH, you can use an acidifying fertilizer.
Pruning ‘Stewartstonian’ Azaleas
Prune ‘Stewartstonian’ after it is done flowering to shape the bush, as needed. These are shrubs that flower on old wood, so they should be pruned after the flowering period has concluded; this gives the plant time to develop the growth that will create next spring’s flowers.
Common Pests/ Diseases
All shrubs in the Rhododendron genus can be susceptible to a variety of insect and disease problems, though it is usually weak plants that experience such problems. Healthy azaleas can be remarkably problem-free in the right environment. Insects that may plague azaleas include aphids, borers, lace bugs, caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, nematodes, scale, thrips, whitefly, and mites. Minor problems can be ignored. Severe infestations should first be addressed with insecticidal soaps and oils before you turn to more toxic chemical pesticides. Common diseases include blights, canker, crown rot, leaf gall, root rot, leaf spot, rust, and powdery mildew. Some of the leaf fungal problems are largely cosmetic and rarely kill the plant, but root rots, vascular diseases, and some cankers may require that you remove and destroy affected branches or even the entire plant. Fungicidal sprays and powders may prevent or cure some fungal diseases. Pruning to improve air circulation can help prevent some diseases. If leaves turn yellow, it may indicate an iron deficiency that occurs when soil pH is too high. Treat this by using an acidifying fertilizer or mulching with an acidic organic material, such as peat moss or pine needles.
Landscape Uses
Azaleas are among the most popular spring flowers in North American landscaping and should be given a location where you can easily take in their beauty as you go about your daily chores in spring. ‘Stewartsonian’ has attractive evergreen foliage that makes it a good choice in almost any four-season application, from woodland borders to foundation planting. This can be a great specimen for mixed shrub borders. Finally, azaleas have shallow root systems that make them relatively safe to plant over septic drain fields.
