Beginner success with Azalea — here is what helped

As a complete beginner I was nervous about starting with Azalea. It turned out to be more forgiving than I expected, as long as I paid attention to deadheading where appropriate to extend the flowering season.

I grow mine in a large container for a terrace or courtyard which is working really well. multi-season interest from flowers, berries, bark, and autumn colour was a genuine surprise — I didn't expect it to look or perform like that. winter bark and evergreen foliage interest has been the highlight so far. My biggest mistake early on was ignoring dieback from harsh winters on marginally hardy varieties, which I'd recommend addressing immediately.