Question
We live in Wilmington, NC.  I have just purchased two small coral color Rozaleas with braided trunks, which are very lovely and unusual by Yoder.  I have experience in planting over 500 azaleas of different species during the landscaping of our home while we lived 100 miles inland in North Carolina, but these will be the first of the Rozalea species I have experienced.  I understand that they must be protected from freezing, which we experienced here in 2010.  Are there other special requirements for this species which may require them to be brought indoors, or risky to be planted in the ground?  We have a deer problem in the area, and they, thus far, have avoided all of our present azaleas which were planted by the original owner.  Are the Rozalea azaleas also deer resistant?  Any tips you could give me would be appreciated.  Thank you.  Bonnie

Answer
Bonnie,

For rozalea care instructions go to this page: http://keepsakeplants.com/index.php/care-a-handling-information.html

Then click on the tab at the top that says care instructions and scroll to the lower half of the page for outdoor instructions. That gives a full set of instructions. The only maajor difference between them and regular azaleas is they absolutely cannot be in temperatures below 30 degrees.  

Yes, it is an azalea and deer do not like azaleas. It is just a florist variety of azalea versus an outdoor azalea. Good luck with your new azalea.

Darlene