Azalea Varieties and Care: The Royalty of the Garden

Azaleas—"The Royalty of the Garden"—are beloved for brilliant flowers and outstanding foliage. Thousands of varieties suit nearly any landscape.

Varieties for Every Situation

• Deciduous – hardiest, some to Zone 3 (e.g., roseshell azalea Rhododendron prinophyllum). Most evergreen only reliable to Zone 6.
• Low-growing groundcovers – 'Joseph Hill' (bright red, evergreen, ~1 ft).
• Tall – sweet azalea (R. arborescens, deciduous, 20 ft, white blooms).
• Weeping – 'Pink Cascade'.
• Every shape and size in between.

Late-Blooming Varieties

• 'Flame Creeper' (orange groundcover) and 'Weston's Lemon Drop' (peachy-yellow) – late June/July.
• 'Sweet September' (pink) – exceptionally late.

How to Grow Azaleas

Best planting: late spring or early fall. Evergreen: partial shade, wind protection. Deciduous: full sun for more flowers.

• Well-drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil (pH 4.5–6).
• Mulch well—shallow roots dry quickly. Oak leaf mold, pine needles, aged oak/pine/hemlock sawdust keep soil acidic and moist.
• Fertilizer not needed—decaying mulch provides nutrients.
• Few insect/disease issues. Water during dry spells once established.

See our Rhododendron and Azalea Plant Guide for details.

By Suzanne O'Rourke