Honest review: Azalea is rewarding but dieback from harsh winters on marginally hardy varieties is real

Azalea is a genuinely satisfying plant to grow, but I want to be upfront about one thing: dieback from harsh winters on marginally hardy varieties. I've dealt with it twice now and it takes consistent attention to manage.

Beyond that, multi-season interest from flowers, berries, bark, and autumn colour makes it one of my favourites in the collection. I keep it in a large container for a terrace or courtyard which suits it well. Learning about watering in dry spells in the first two seasons after planting has been essential. autumn berries and foliage colour is worth waiting for — the plant really justifies itself then. Four stars because of that persistent issue.