The oaks and your liquidambar are both compatible with azaleas and rhododendrons. They generally provide filtered shade not dense, their leaves decompose slowly providing a long lasting acid mulch, and they are normally not surface rooted. I can't answer your questions on specific spacing though - here in this maritime climate I can grow rhododendrons in full sun. Is rainfall normally an issue for you or is it just this year in particular? Ideally, open sky above them would allow them to benefit from what rainfall you do have, while still receiving enough shade from adjacent trees as light patterns change during the day.

Thanks so much Dave. (I was beginning to think I smelled funny since no one responded! Maybe I didn't choose my title wisely. ???) You are right. That picture shows exactly what I don't want. I've been reading this forum, taking notes, and googling the trees in my notes. Instead of becoming more knowledgeable, I think I'm just more confused than ever! (Emerald Green Arborvitae, aka Smaragd, is the same as Emerald Green Thuja ... right? or wrong?) I like to decide what I'm going to use in advance because I know I'll get distracted at the nursery. (So many plants, so little time.) Thanks for your help. Nin

Hey guys, I am trying out Fall/Winter sowing this year. I received seeds for Pink Muhly Grass recently. Can/should it be planted in the fall in my zone? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! ❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀

Sorry for the late reply, HU-243901113. I don't regularly fertilize my Jiaogulan plants, but do occasionally water them with some 'Foliage Pro' in the water, which is what I water my citrus trees with. My first year growing them I kept them in a near total shady spot, and they grew very slowly. When I moved them to a sunnier spot they grew much faster, but too much sun wilted them badly. I now keep mine in a spot were they get the morning sun, and afternoon shade when the day is hotter. They have thrived in that spot. I started/grew Jiaogulan plants last winter in a SunBlaster Grow Light Garden kit I got off Amazon, and it worked OK. I also have put them in a window where they grow, but not as fast as when outdoors. Most of the Jiaogulan roots in the pictures above died this past winter (I should have moved them to a more protected area when the prolong super cold temps came), but they produced a lot of berries last year which I harvested for seed (berries are not edible by the way). Those seeds germinated and I now have replacement plants just as good as the ones above. When they sprouted, the vines had 3 leafs, but now they have matured into 5 leaf Jiaogulan plants. I don't think I'd be willing to sell any of my plants. I got my starter plants from Joe Hollis of Mountain Gardens Herbs, and highly recommend purchasing plants from him. I have purchased plants elsewhere. Not all Jiaogulan plants taste them same, some are bitter, some sweeter, some have no flavor at all. The bare root plants I got from Hollis were most vigorous and had a pleasant taste. I use mostly the leaves for tea, as most of the beneficial properties in Jiaogulan are concentrated in the leaves, from what I have read. I don't *think* the roots or flowers are edible (haven't confirmed they are), but I have read in Jiaogulan resource books that the berries should not be consumed. . Good luck!