{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Good Growing","title":"Ep. 251 Celebrating the Year of the Azalea and Talking How to Grow Them | #GoodGrowing","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2959,"description":"The National Garden Bureau has named 2026 the Year of the Azalea! Ken, Emily, and Chris are digging into what makes these colorful (and sometimes finicky) plants so popular.\nIn this episode of the Good Growing podcast, we break down everything you need to know about azaleas—from their connection to rhododendrons to how to grow them successfully in the Midwest. If you’ve ever wondered why azaleas struggle in Illinois landscapes (or if they’re even worth trying), this episode is for you.\nWatch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Tvg7VoiBmgc\n00:30 Hey Ken\n01:07 Hey Emily!\n01:42 Topic of the week: Year of the azalea according to the National Garden Bureau\n03:13 Rhododendron vs, Azalea, which is which?\n05:44 Groups of azalea: Tsutsusi and pentanthera\n07:19 Native deciduous azalea vs non-native evergreen azalea\n07:42 History of breeding azalea\n10:16 Growing requirement for azalea\n14:52 Site selection and species/cultivar selection\n18:59 Insects and disease challenges with azaleas\n22:24 Pollinators and azalea\n23:51 Phytopthora root rot and soil pH issues\n25:10 Back to pollinators on azalea\n26:06 Describing 10 azaleas native to Eastern North America\n   27:08 Alabama Azalea\n   29:12 Coastal Azalea\n   30:11 Florida Azalea\n   32:13 Flame Azalea\n   33:04 Piedmont or Mountain Azalea\n   33:35 Oconee Azalea (also goes by Peidmont azalea in some areas but is a different species)\n   34:14 Pinxterbloom Azalea\n   35:13 Rochelle/Early/Plumleaf Azalea\n   36:44 Pink Shell Azalea\n   37:28 Swamp Azalea\n39:19 Would we grow azaleas in our yard?\n42:34 What type of azalea might you find in an Illinois nursery?\n44:32 Azaleas at Augusta Golf Course\nContact us! \nChris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu\nKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu \nEmily Swihart eswihart@illinois.edu\nLike what you hear? Subscribe for more gardening tips, plant talk, and seasonal inspiration from University of Illinois Extension.\nCheck out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing\nSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/R8M4jy-2EktViSJpDBxEJL2IulcAlRJg8ktxlDJM3UA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzQzNDE1LzE2ODk3/OTA0NTktYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}