Troubleshooting
Deciduous Azalea 'Gibraltar' problems — and how to fix them
Deciduous Azalea 'Gibraltar' (Rhododendron 'Gibraltar') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Azalea gall
Leaves and buds swell into pale, fleshy, later white-bloomed galls caused by a fungus. Pick off and destroy galls before they turn white to limit spread.
Powdery mildew
White coating and premature leaf drop in late summer, worse in dry-rooted plants. Keep roots moist and mulched, improve airflow, and remove badly affected leaves.
Chlorosis
Yellowing between veins indicates alkaline soil or iron deficiency. Maintain acidity with ericaceous mulch and treat with sequestered iron.
Drought stress and bud failure
Dry summers cause wilting and few flowers the next spring. Water deeply in dry spells and mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.
Prevent deciduous azalea 'gibraltar' problems before they start
Most deciduous azalea 'gibraltar' issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for deciduous azalea 'gibraltar' in general rather than its problems? Read the full deciduous azalea 'gibraltar' care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Deciduous Azalea 'Gibraltar' problems — FAQ
Why is my deciduous azalea 'gibraltar' azalea gall?
Leaves and buds swell into pale, fleshy, later white-bloomed galls caused by a fungus. Pick off and destroy galls before they turn white to limit spread.
Why is my deciduous azalea 'gibraltar' powdery mildew?
White coating and premature leaf drop in late summer, worse in dry-rooted plants. Keep roots moist and mulched, improve airflow, and remove badly affected leaves.
Why is my deciduous azalea 'gibraltar' chlorosis?
Yellowing between veins indicates alkaline soil or iron deficiency. Maintain acidity with ericaceous mulch and treat with sequestered iron.
Why is my deciduous azalea 'gibraltar' drought stress and bud failure?
Dry summers cause wilting and few flowers the next spring. Water deeply in dry spells and mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.