I live in northeast Florida, a warm climate. I have a large bed of
azaleas covering an area about 30 feet long and 10 feet wide. There are
probably 25 plants in this large area, all planted 35 years ago.

In recent years, I could tell that one area on one end was getting a bit
dormant, as the leaves and spring blooms were not lush, and not real green.
I monitored the ph level for several years, and it seems normal. These
plants get partial sun. Other than this one area of dormant plants on one
end, the other bushes were always healthy, green, etc.

However, during this summer, I have started losing some plants. The one
area that has looked dormant for a few years has slowly started dying out
entirely.... right down to the main stalks near the ground. The leaves are
yellow, with rusty looking spots on them, both tops and bottoms of leaves.
A group of plants on the opposite end of this flowerbed has now started to
yellow, and show the brownish rusty spots on the leaves, and the plants look
weak.

These plants have not been over watered, or under watered. During breif
periods of drought that we had this year, I made sure they were watered, but
I don't think that I overdid it.

In between these obviously dying plants, I still have perfectly beautiful
plants that look perfectly healthy, green, and vibrant. Yet, I wonder if
these good plants are going to fall prey to whatever is going on with the
decaying plants.

Once again, these plants are 35 years old. I wonder if they are like some
other species, and just have a life span that cannot be exceeded. For some
reason, I thought that azaleas could last even over 50 years.

Before making this post, I have done a lot of research, and there are many
diseases and other problems like root rot, but I can't seem to boil it down
to one single probable cause. I don't think that I have insect problems,
as I don't see any chewed off areas of the leaves.

Anyone have any ideas or comments on this ? Could it be that like me, they
plants are getting too old ???

Thanks for any comments or ideas.

James