Let's play, "Name That Flowering Shrub!"

I saw this shrub in the park while getting some walking in. Long Island, NY. Zone 7a/7b. It was against a building. So partial shade. About 5 ft wide. It's in full bloom this past weekend. I'll be disappointed if this turns out to be "just" a different type of azalea. It looks so nice.

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Azalea. How is it different than other azaleas you see?

Quote
neophyte
Azalea. How is it different than other azaleas you see?

The blooms are so much larger than the ones I'm used to seeing. These blooms are big like lilies.

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I'm thinking that might actually be a Rhododendron and not an Azalea as evidenced by the spotting in the throat of the blooms that Azaleas don't normally have. Azaleas can have huge blooms, especially the older varieties that will cover the entire front of the house if you don't keep them trimmed back, but typically those blooms are monochromatic.

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WARNING- If I posted a link in the above message, assume it is at minimum "NSFW- Language". Occasionally you'll be wrong.

Lie to me if you must, but don't lie to me and insult my intelligence in the same sentence.

Resist the Thought Police: George Orwell's book 1984 was meant as a warning, not an instruction manual.

"Political correctness is just intellectual colonialism and psychological fascism for the creation of thought crime" - Steve Hughes

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"I don't see color, I just see ugly" - Joe Jitsukawa

Looks like a Formosa azalea.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

The wife (the plant guru in my family) says it's a rhododendron.

She would know. She's not sure of the specific varietal.

Some close macro shots might help decide. Where leaves attach to the branches, bunches of leaves, underneath structure of the flowers, and what the flowers look like after the petals have fallen off.

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In tha 360. MRF User Map

[www.monrovia.com]

“Rich lavender pink flowers with darker accent blotch are large and showy. Blooms early to midseason on tall, upright plants. Valued for massing in the south. Sun tolerant, very hardy and quite vigorous.“

Formosas come in several colors. I think this is probably a lilac one.
They are very common around here.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Quote
rgG
[www.monrovia.com]

“Rich lavender pink flowers with darker accent blotch are large and showy. Blooms early to midseason on tall, upright plants. Valued for massing in the south. Sun tolerant, very hardy and quite vigorous.“

Formosas come in several colors. I think this is probably a lilac one.
They are very common around here.

Looks like we have a winner.

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WARNING- If I posted a link in the above message, assume it is at minimum "NSFW- Language". Occasionally you'll be wrong.

Lie to me if you must, but don't lie to me and insult my intelligence in the same sentence.

Resist the Thought Police: George Orwell's book 1984 was meant as a warning, not an instruction manual.

"Political correctness is just intellectual colonialism and psychological fascism for the creation of thought crime" - Steve Hughes

Stop and think about this: If you're able to shout the words "I CAN'T BREATHE!!!" at considerable volume, then you have just proven to anyone listening that you can indeed breathe.

"I don't see color, I just see ugly" - Joe Jitsukawa

EXCELLENT. Thank you all for playing!

It's interesting that the zone says 8-9. But NY is solidly in zone 7. Maybe that's why I don't see this plant for sale up here in garden centers or usually planted in parks.

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Pretty sure it's one of these:
[en.wikipedia.org]
Hope this helps.

According to the world wide web:

Azaleas vs. Rhododendrons

All azaleas are Rhododendrons but not all Rhododendrons are azaleas.
Most Azaleas are deciduous, but true Rhododendrons are usually evergreen.
Azaleas have funnel shaped flowers. Rhodi flowers tend to be bell-shaped.





Interesting!

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Love this forum.

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rj
AKA
Vreemac, Moth of the Future

Those Formosa azaleas are evergreen, and as rgG says, very common down here in the sunny southland. Maybe deciduous ones are found more frequently up north? Or in the wild? I don't recall seeing them used in landscapes.