Delaware Valley White Shrubs are one of the easiest Azaleas to care for. They provide year-round interest as their white bell-shaped flowers emerge in the spring, summer, and fall and the beautiful evergreen leaves transition to gold in the winter.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Delaware Valley White Azalea (Rhododendron ‘Delaware Valley White’) is a lovely addition to any landscape. For one, white flowers are uncommon but serve as fine complements to flowers and foliage of all colors. Delaware Valley White produces pretty azalea white flowers about 2 to 4 inches in size each spring. They rise above evergreen foliage. For a showstopper, year-round hedge, plant several of the shrubs along a garden border, sidewalk, driveway or before low structures.
Growing to about 3 or 4 feet tall and wide, Delaware Valley White Azalea is a perfect low hedge or border. It also can stand out in the center of a garden bed or against a fence or house. Butterflies are drawn to the big white flower clusters and the lush green foliage shines in the garden through winter. Each flower has about 10 long stamens, adding to the delicate beauty of the white blooms. The shrub should thrive in part sun in zones 5 through 8.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Typically grows best in partial shade but will often perform well in full sunlight.
Watering and Fertilizing
Most Delaware Valley White Azaleas should receive water about two to three times per month. However, if you live in the warmer parts of this plant’s growing range, you may need to water as often as once per week. This is also true if your plant experiences a heatwave or a drought, regardless of the growing location. Start feeding your Delaware Valley White Azalea during the bloom period with a balanced fertilizer that encourages soil acidity. Repeat this feeding about four times during the rest of spring and summer for the best results.
Planting Instructions
One of the most important factors when choosing a growing location for a Delaware Valley White Azalea is soil drainage. You should never plant this cultivar in an area where the soil is heavy and fails to drain excess water efficiently. This plant is less picky about sunlight, as it can grow in both full sun and partial shade. To plant a Delaware Valley White Azalea, start by digging a hole that is at least twice as wide as the root ball and as deep as the root ball is tall.
Pruning
There is a relatively short timeframe in which it is best to prune a Delaware Valley White Azalea. Each year, you should wait until the flowers fade before you prune. However, you should not wait so long that the next year’s buds set on the plant. So, your pruning should take place sometime during late spring or early summer. When pruning, all you need to do is focus on removing any dead, damaged or diseased limbs.
Pollination
The flowers of the Delaware Valley White Azalea contain both male and female structures, which allows for self-pollination. However, these structures are relatively far from one another compared to the sexual structures of other flowers. As such, smaller insects like bees are not often capable of pollinating these flowers. Instead, the Delaware Valley White Azalea will rely on larger pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds to spread its pollen. With that said, pollination is not a common goal for this plant as the species does not produce fruits that humans regularly consume.
Mulching
You mulch your Azalea Delaware Valley Shrubs with either a ground hardwood mulch or a ground cypress mulch depending on your local availability. Any mulch will do, but cypress or hardwood mulch will be of a higher quality. They will also provide better nutrition overall as they break down. Mulching helps keep weeds away that compete with your new investment for water and nutrients. A 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch is sufficient but remember to take care not to cover any part of the stem with mulch. It’s better to leave a one-inch gap of space between the mulch and the stem or trunk of the plant.
Pests and Diseases
The Delaware Valley White Azalea is vulnerable to several pests and diseases. In the former case, several common garden insects, including aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, lace bugs and others may infest this plant. On the disease side, your Delaware Valley White Azalea may contract powdery mildew, rust or root rot. The last of these diseases is often preventable as it arises when an azalea lives in soils that have poor drainage. Plant your Delaware Valley White Azalea where the soil drains well and remain vigilant for signs of pests or infections to keep it in good health.
III. Uses and Benefits
The Delaware Valley Azalea adds pure white color to the landscape. Azaleas are excellent for borders and mass plantings. This evergreen shrub jazzes up gardens and mixed beds. At 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide at maturity this stunning azalea is perfect for foundation plantings. For borders or hedges plant about 4 feet apart on center. Otherwise, plant about 6 feet apart to give your plants space in-between.
