Azalea lifespan
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We have a row of azaleas by the driveway, so of which are probably 40 years old. Even the youngest there are at least 20 years old. I'm just curious and can't find an answer, how long do they usually live? I think when I bought them they were called kurum azaleas, although that was a long time ago. This picture was taken a few years back when they had a really good year.
6 answers
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Azaleas are long lived plants when their requirements are met. There are azaleas in Japan which are hundreds of years old, and may appear more as a small tree than a shrub, with (rarely) trunks 12 inches or more in diameter.
Luis
on Jun 20, 2014
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Great! We'll keep taking care of them and tell our daughter that they will be here when she inherits. Thank you for replying.
Jennie Gaskin
on Jun 20, 2014
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A province in China claims to have an azalea more than 200 years old. If you keep looking after those the way you have, they have a lot of life left in them!
Douglas Hunt
on Jun 21, 2014
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I love azaleas but don't have the proper setting for them...under and around trees! They get the hot sun out of the west and I hate watering! Enjoy yours, they are lovely!
Jeanette S
on Jun 21, 2014
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They were originally around the front porch of our old house, and when we built the new one (same yard) we moved them over to line the new driveway. BTW, that beat-down dirt is just the remains of the driveway before we moved it to the other side of the azaleas; it is now completely green lawn. The azaleas were out in the sun when planted, but 37 years later they are shaded by a huge magnolia. Those oaks aren't as close to the driveway as they seem.
Jennie Gaskin
on Jun 21, 2014
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Jennie, to my knowledge, they last indefinitely. I had some leaf gall and had to hard prune a couple of mine and they revived in one season. They even bloomed this spring, albeit less vigorously than usual. I expect them to be blooming well by next spring. Also, I have never hesitated to move or hard prune rhododendrons and azaleas. Here in the Puget Sound region of WA, the weather is very forgiving, but follow the dictates of your growing zone and region if you want to move or prune your shrubs. Your shrubs look healthy and vigorous. There's no reason to believe they won't be around for a very long time!
Deborah Donovan-Navarro
on Jun 21, 2014
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