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What's the difference between rhododendrons and azaleas?

josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
Thirty years ago I made the acquaintance of a lovely plant, looked it up and found it was rhododendron luteum.   A few years ago when I wanted to buy one, I found the growers all list it as azalea luteum.  What's the difference?
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  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I remember it being called Rhododendron Luteum, or Azalea Ponticum ( not to be confused with R. Ponticum )
    Devon.
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150
    I don't understand the proper difference josusa.
    I do know that all azaleas are part of the rhododendron family.  

    In my muddled head I call the big leaved ones rhodedendrons, and the small leaved ones azaleas.
    Be aware, there is no scientific basis to my thoughts, it's just how I personally differentiate between the two.

    I'm interested to see if one of the cleverer members can explain it to us. 😊
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    An azalea is a rhododendron.. but a rhododendron is not necessarily an azalea.  A square is a rectangle.. but a rectangle is not necessarily a square, and sometimes a rectangle is just a rectangle.  Or something along those lines.  Azalea is a group within the rhododendron umbrella.  
    Utah, USA.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    On one of the gardening programmes in the past week it was stated that Rhodo's and Azaleas are 'the same thing'.  I can't remember whether it was GW or Beechgrove.
  • Jules41Jules41 Posts: 178
    Just had a quick look on the internet.. this link might help 

    https://www.rhododendrons.co.uk/Page/64/rhododendron-and-azalea-groups.aspx
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150
    A nice informative link. Thanks Jules 😊.
    I think I may have evergreen azaleas going off the description given. I'm going out to check my stamens now 🔍.
  • UpNorthUpNorth Posts: 376
    anything small seems to be classed (rightly or wrongly) as Azalea and similarly the small ones tend to have the wonderful fragrance, whereas i don't recall ever smelling much from larger ( 2m+) specimens.
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    Thanks everyone!
  • 1634 Racine1634 Racine Posts: 568
    UpNorth said:
    anything small seems to be classed (rightly or wrongly) as Azalea and similarly the small ones tend to have the wonderful fragrance, whereas i don't recall ever smelling much from larger ( 2m+) specimens.
    My luteum is about 2m and smells divine.   I have a couple of small azalea (John Cairns) with no scent at all.
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    My luteum is in its third summer and has its first flowers, I'm thrilled.  Especially as I'm on limestone, I knew I was taking a chance.
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