Azalea - Deciduous Hybrids

All Azaleas fall into the Rhododendron family!
Azalea bushes thrive under the partial, filtered shade of pine, hickory and Oak, along with companion dogwood trees and camellia shrubs. Azalea plants prefer grown in partial shade, and when planted next to buildings, the north side offers protection from cold damage. The flowers of the azalea plant last longer in filtered pine tree shade because of the cooling effect. Pine tree straw, pine cones, and pine tree bark make excellent mulch under azaleas because it both cools and acidifies the soil. When planting azalea bushes, the shrub should be put into a landscaped hole containing 1/2 soil & 1/2 organic matter, such as peat moss, leaf gro or pine bark. Azalea plants are very shallow rooted and do not do well in compacted or heavy clay soils.
Azaleas love acidic soils, and a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 is perfect for vigorous growth. Watering may be essential if significant rainfall does not occur over two week period and fertilizing is usually not recommended. Fertilizer can burn the tender fibrous roots and may even kill the plant. If yellowing occurs in the leaves or leaf veins, Iron or Magnesium (Epsom salts) can correct the situation. NEVER put lime on an Azalea plant, not only is it wasting money, it can kill the plant.
Healthy Azaleas have bright green glossy leaves in the summer. If the leaves are dull green above and reddening below, that may signal phosphorous deficiency. It is ok to put a water soluble phosphorous fertilizer on the plant but AVOID NITROGEN!
Pruning should be done immediately after blooming to ensure good bloom the following season.
Azalea shrubs are propagated easily by taking a cutting about 8 inches long and placing the cut end about 2 inches deep in sand. These cuttings may root within a week during June and July, and the plant may grow another foot tall before being ready to be planted permanently.

* photos taken on May 26 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 4 2017 in Columbia, MD

Azalea ( Bowee )

'Great Balls of Fire'
An upright, rounded, deciduous shrub, reaching up to 8 x 6 feet.
The fragrant, fiery orange flowers are borne on large clusters during early spring.
Hardy zones 6b to 9.



Azalea ( Exbury / Knap Hill )
Hybrids of complex parentage that are developed starting in the late 1800s @ Knap Hill in Surrey, England by the Waterer family. They are typically large bushy shrubs reaching up to 12 x 6 feet unless otherwise noted.
The flowers are brightly colored, large and sometimes fragrant. They are borne in very large trusses with as many as 30 blooms.
These deciduous Azaleas typically have excellent fall color with the foliage turning bronzish in early fall then later to brilliant yellows and reds before falling.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 unless otherwise noted.

'Admiral Semmes'
The hybrid of an Exbury ( 'Hotspur Yellow' ) and R. austrinum.
It forms a vigorous shrub, reaching up to 12 x 5 feet.
The fragrant, large, yellow flowers are borne early spring.
It is very tolerant of hot humid summers of the southeastern U.S., it is also hardy north to zone 5.

'Aurora'
Intense yellowish-orange flowers

'Ballerina'
Flowers are white with an orange flare.

'Balzac'
Reaches up to 8 x 6 feet, with fragrant, reddish-orange flowers.

'Berryrose'
Vigorous shrub with red new spring foliage that later turns to green. The fragrant flowers are bright red with a vivid yellow blotch

'Brazil'
Bright tangerine, red, somewhat frilled flowers on a shrub reaching up to 8 feet.
Hardy to -30 F

'Cannon's Double'
Moderate growing, to 6 x 5 feet in 10 years.
Foliage is bronze at first, turning to deep green.
The flowers are a combination of orange, pink and cream.

* photo taken on May 7 2023 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 15 2023 in Howard Co., MD

'Crinoline'
Flowers are ruffled white and flushed with pink

'Dorothy Corsten'
Deep pink flowers on a shrub with bronzed foliage.

'Firefly'
Intense purple-red flowers subtly flared orange.

'Fireball'
Vigorous and upright, reaching up to 8 x 6 feet, with fiery orangish-red flowers.
The foliage is glossy bronze at first.

* photos taken on May 14 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 3 2012 in Howard Co., MD

'Gibraltar'
A large shrub, reaching a maximum size of 13 x 13 feet, though typically half that on average sites.
The intense orange, fringed flowers are up to 2.5 inches across.
While the flower buds can tolerate as low as -25 F, it should be mulched in cold climates since 10 F can kill exposed roots. It is heat tolerant if soil is moist.





* photo taken on April 28 2010 in Howard County, MD

* photo taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Garden, Bethesda, MD

* photos taken on May 15 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 17 2015 in Sandy Spring/Olney, MD

* photos taken on May 18 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 8 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 11 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Apr 27 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Golden Eagle'
Upright and arching in habit, reaching up to 6 feet.
It bears fragrant, intense bright red-orange ( with yellow midrib and bright orange blotch ) flowers up to 3 inches across

'Homebush'
Semi-double deep pink flowers borne in tight clusters on a compact shrub up to 8 x 8 feet.
The broadly-oval, bright green foliage turns very attractive colors in autumn.
Hardy to zone 4 tolerating as low as -30 F!

* photo taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


'Hotspur Red'
HUGE red-orange flowers up to 4 inches across on a plant reaching up to 12 x 8 feet.

'King's Red'
An upright, rounded shrub, reaching up to 5 x 5 feet in 10 years, eventually larger.
The elliptical leaves, up to 2.7 inches in length, are bright green.
The frilled, intense pure scarlet-red flowers, up to 2.7 inches wide, are borne on large, rounded clusters of 11 to 14 during late spring.
Hardy zones 5 to 9.

* photo taken on April 28 2010 in Howard County, MD

* photo taken on May 8 2017 in Columbia, MD

'Klondyke'
Fragrant orange-yellow to deep orange flowers on a moderate growing, upright shrub reaching up to 8 x 7 feet. The mildew resistant foliage is reddish at first during spring.

* photo taken on May 14 2012 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on June 3 2012 in Howard Co, MD
* photos taken on Sep 5 2013 in Elkridge, MD

* photo taken on Oct 23 2022 in Burtonsville, MD

* photo taken on May 7 2023 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Sep 17 2023 in Burtonsville, MD

* photo taken on Apr 24 2023 in Elkridge, MD

* photo taken on Oct 15 2023 in Howard Co., MD

'Krakatoa'
Flowers are orange-red

'Lady Jane'
Intense yellow, fragrant flowers with red-orange flushing and wavy edged petals.

'Lady Rosebery'
Crimson red flowers with an orange blotch are borne in very large inflorescences.

'Lapwing'
Creamy yellow flowers with pink tints

'Orange Supreme'
Orange flowers with a medium orange blotch and deep orange flushing.

'Persil'
Flowers are white with a deep yellow flare

'Seville'

* photo taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD


'Strawberry Ice'
Very large inflorescences of pink flowers with a deep yellow throat on a shrub reaching up to 8 x 8 feet.

'Tunis'
Vigorous and grows very large reaching up to 15 x 15 feet with age.
The deep green leaves turn to yellow during autumn.
The deep red ( with an red-orange blotch inside ) flowers are up to 3 inches wide.
Hardy zones 5 to 8.

* photo taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD




'Viscosepala'
Vigorous growing, it is the largest of these hybrids, known to reach as much as 9 x 21 feet!
The abundant, fragrant, showy, white flowers are borne during late spring.

'Wallowa Red'
Intense to almost flourescent scarlet-fuschia flowers.

'White Throat'
Pure white, double flowers on a compact shrub.

'Wryneck'
Flowers are intense yellow with pink edging.

Azalea ( Ghent )
A group of hybrid Azalea with R. calendulaceum and R. periclymenoides in their parentage that were bred in the early 1800s in the city of Ghent in Belgium.
They form large shrubs with often fragrant, large trusses of somewhat small flowers ( up to 2 inches wide ) in late spring to summer. Hardy zones 5 to 9 and are heat tolerant.

'Altaclarensis'
Tall growing with white flowers having an orange blotch

'Coccineum Speciousum'
Orange-red flowers on a shrub reaching up to 8 x 8 feet.

'Corneille'
Double pink flowers on a shrub with intense autumn foliage color.

'Daviesii'
Very fragrant, large white flowers that have a yellow blotch, on a rounded shrub reaching 10 feet.
The foliage is blue-green.

'Gloria Mundi'
Orange and yellow flowers up to 2.5 inches wide on a bushy shrub reaching up to 8 x 7 feet. The oval foliage is bright green.

'Nancy Waterer'
Beautifully scented large golden yellow blooms on a shrub reaching up to 8 x 6 feet.

'Narcissiflora'
Sweetly fragrant, double, bright yellow flowers on a vigorous, compact, upright shrub reaching up to 5 x 5 feet in 10 years and eventually to 8 x 8 feet.
The lance, bright green foliage turns to bronze in autumn.

'Phoebe'
Deep yellow double flowers on a shrub reaching up to 8 feet.

'Pucella'
Pink flowers are blotched bright orange.

'Vulcan'
Deep red flowers are blotched orange.

Azalea ( Lights )
Very cold hardy hybrids bred in the U.S.A. with profuse small flowers.
Rarely bothered by pests or disease.

'Apricot Surprise'
Orange-pink buds open up to intense golden-yellow flowers, up to 1.5 inches across, on a vigorous, dense, upright shrub, reaching up to 8 x 7 feet.
It has excellent fall color.
Hardy to zone 4 ( tolerating as low as -35 F, thriving even in Canada's maritimes ) It prefers cooler summers.

* photo taken on May 15 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 15 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 17 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Apr 27 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Electric Lights Red'
Fragrant, intense scarlet-red flowers on am upright, rounded shrub reaching up to 5 x 4 feet.
It is flower bud hardy to -30 F.

'Golden Lights'
Upright, rounded in habit, reaching up to 5 x 5 feet in 10 years, eventually to 6 x 6 feet.
The mid-green foliage turns to bronze-red during autumn.
The fragrant, orangish-yellow flowers appear over a period lasting up to 2 weeks during late spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 7, flower bud hardy to as low as -30 F. The foliage is mildew resistant.


* photos taken on May 18 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 1 2017 in Columbia, MD

'Lemon Lights'
Abundant lemon-yellow flowers on a vigorous, upright rounded shrub reaching up to 10 x 4 ( rarely over 6 ) feet in 10 years, eventually to 12 feet. Vigorous plants will often rebloom in late fall.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

* photo taken on June 3 2012 in Howard Co., MD

'Mandarin Lights'
An upright, rounded shrub, reaching up to 5 x 5 feet in 10 years, eventually to 8 x 8 feet.
The foliage is mid-green, turning to bronze during autumn.
The very abundant, fluorescent deep orange-red, ruffled flowers are borne over a period lasting up to 2 weeks during mid-spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 7, tolerates as low as -40 F



* photo taken on June 3 2012 in Howard Co., MD
* photo taken on May 26 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 12 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 4 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 19 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 9 2019 in Columbia, MD

'Northern Hi-Lights'
A compact rounded shrub, reaching up to 4 x 5 feet in 10 years, eventually slightly more.
The foliage is bronze at first, turning to mid-green. The leaves turn to reddish-purple during autumn.
The flowers are creamy-white with a yellow flare. They appear over a period lasting up to 2 weeks during late spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 7, tolerates as low as -40 F. The foliage is mildew resistant.

* photos taken on May 12 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 4 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 13 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 19 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 9 2019 in Columbia, MD

'Northern Lights'
Fragrant pink flowers on a shrub that can reach up to 6 x 6 feet in 10 years and eventually 8 x 8 feet.
Hardy to as cold as -45 F



'Orchid Lights'
A rounded, compact shrub, reaching up to 3 x 3 feet in 10 years, eventually to 3.5 x 4 feet. It is a hybrid between Azalea canadense and Azalea x kosteranum.
The mid-green foliage turns to bronze-green during autumn.
The abundant, lightly fragrant, bright lavender-purple flowers, appear over a period lasting up to 2 weeks during late spring.
Hardy zones 3 to 7, thriving even in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The flower buds are hardy to as low as -45 F.

* photo taken on April 10 in Howard County, MD


* photo taken on June 3 2012 in Howard Co., MD
* photo taken on May 3 2015 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Apr 30 2017 in Annapolis, MD

* photos taken on May 17 2017 in Annapolis, MD

* photos taken on May 31 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Rosy Lights'
A vigorous, upright, rounded shrub, reaching up to 8 x 8 feet in 10 years and eventually to 10 x 8 feet.
The attractive foliage turns to brilliant purple-red during autumn.
The fragrant flowers are deep pink.
Hardy north to zone 3a and the flower buds tolerate as low as -45 F

* photos taken on May 7 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 3 2012 in Howard Co., MD
* photo taken on Apr 27 2017 in Elkridge, MD

* photo taken on May 8 2017 in Elkridge, MD

'Tri-Lights'
Spectacular display of frilly white flowers with intense yellow spotting and purple-pink marbling.
It forms a vigorous shrub, reaching up to 5 x 6 feet in 10 years, eventually more.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

* photos taken on May 19 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 26 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 9 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 27 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 9 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 11 2020 in Columbia, MD

'Western Lights'
An improved form of 'Orchid Lights' with much larger flowers and thicker more luxuriant foliage.
Hardy to -30 F.

'White Lights'
A fast growing, upright shrub with growth rates as much as 2.5 feet per year. It usually matures around 6 x 6 feet.
The abundant, very fragrant flowers are white with a yellow blotch.
The leaves are large, up to 5 x 2 inches. The deep green foliage turns to bronze-purple during autumn.
Hardy to as cold as -50 F, in fact the buds may even be hardy to as low as -55 F.

* photo taken on June 3 2012 in Howard Co., MD

Azalea ( Mollis Hybrids )
Mostly bred in the Netherlands in the 1860s and 1870s being the results of hybrids between A. japonicum x A. molle and earlier Ghent Hybrids.
They are typically large shrubs to 8 feet in height with large single flowers up to 2 inches across in mid spring. Some of these cultivars are fragrant.
They are hardy zones 6 to 9 and are unfortunately difficult to reproduce from cuttings contributing to they're rarity.

'Anthony Koster'
Yellow-orange flowers up to 2.7 inches across

'Apple Blossom'
Flowers are light pink

'Carat'
Flowers are reddish orange with an orange blotch

'Christopher Wren'
Large brilliant yellow flowers with a bold orange blotch

'Dr M. Oosthoek
Brilliant orange-red flowers on a shrub reaching 8 x 6 feet. Hardy north to zone 5a

'Dr Reichenbach'
Salmon-orange flowers up to 2.5 inches across with a red-orange blotch.

'Esmeralda'
Orange flowers open from red buds

'Hortulanus H Witte
Orange-yellow flowers up to 2.3 inches across with an orange blotch

'Hugo Koster'
Orange flowers up to 2.7 inches across on a plant reaching up to 10 feet

'J.C. van Tol'
Orange-red flowers up to 2.7 inches across. Hardy north to zone 5b

'Koster's Brilliant Red'
Red-orange flowers up to 2.5 inches across on a plant up to 8 x 6 feet. Hardy north to zone 5b

'Koster's Yellow'
Orange-yellow flowers up to 3.3 inches across have an orange blotch

'Winston Churchill'
Flowers are orange-red

Azalea ( Occidentale Hybrids )
Hybrids forming wide spreading, slow growing shrubs reaching up to 8 feet in height. They originate in England from the mixing of A. occidentalis with the Mollis hybrids in the early 1900s.
More tolerant of heat and humidity as well as drought than most Azaleas.
Hardy zones 6 to 9

'Bridesmaid'
White flowers have a yellow blotch.

'Coccinea Speciosa'
The deep orange flowers are densely packed into rounded clusters on a shrub reaching up to 8 x 8 feet.

'Delicatissimim'
Creamy white flowers with pink flushing and an orange flare.

'Exquisitum'
Deep red buds open up to fragrant, frilled, light pink flowers with an orange flare.

'Graciosa'
Orange-yellow flowers flushed pink.

'Irena Koster'
Fragrant white flowers with pink flushing, up to 2.5 inches across. Reaches up to 8 feet.

'Magnifica'
White flowers with pink flushing and an orange flare, on a shrub reaching up to 8 feet.


'Persil'
White flowers with a yellow blotch on a shrub reaching up to 8 feet.

'Superba'
Frilled, deep pink flowers have an orange blotch

Azalea ( Rustica Flore Pleno )
Originated from hybridizing double Ghent and Mollis hybrids in Belgium in the late 1800s. The offspring have double blooms.

'Bryon'
White flowers up to 2 inches across are flushed with pink.

'Freya'
Fragrant, light pink flowers with salmon pink flushing on a compact, bushy shrub reaching up to 5 x 5 feet. The narrow foliage is bright green.

'Norma'
Intense orange -red flowers on a shrub reaching up to 5 feet.

'Phideas'
Cream flowers with pink flushing open from pink buds.