Looking to add some vibrant color to your garden this year?
There are many different types of azaleas, each with their own unique look.
We will also provide tips on how to care for your azaleas and double-check they thrive.
So if youre ready to add some beautiful blooms to your landscape, keep reading!
Azaleas are native to Asia, North America, and Europe.
In the United States, they are most commonly found in the southeastern states.
Azaleas belong to the genusRhododendron, which also includes rhododendrons and mountain laurels.
Azaleas are usually smaller than rhododendrons, and they have much finer leaves.
Most azaleas bloom in the spring, but some species will bloom in the summer or fall.
What is the most popular azalea?
The PJM has dark green leaves and blooms in late spring with large, deep pink flowers.
What is the hardiest azalea?
The answer may surprise you its the Rhododendron canadense, also known as the Canada azalea.
What is the difference between Encore Azaleas and regular azaleas?
Encore Azaleas are a newer variety of azalea that was developed in the 1980s.
Encore Azaleas also bloom for a longer period of time than regular azaleas, typically from spring until fall.
Regular azaleas, on the other hand, only grow to be about three feet tall and wide.
Difference Between Azalea and Rhododendron Flowers
Azaleas and rhododendrons are both gorgeous flowering plants.
But whats the difference between them?
For starters, azaleas are part of the genus Rhododendron, while rhododendrons are in the genus Rhododendron.
Azaleas have smaller flowers than rhododendrons, and their leaves are generally smaller as well.
Azaleas also tend to be more tolerant of shade than rhododendrons.
What are the fastest growing azaleas?
In general, however, there are a few azalea varieties that tend to grow faster than others.
One of the fastest growing azaleas is the Rhododendron simsii.
This variety can grow up to three feet per year, making it one of the faster growing azaleas.
Another fast-growing variety is the Rhododendron indicum, which can grow up to two feet per year.
Which azaleas bloom the longest?
The Southern Living Plant Collection has long-blooming azaleas that will add color to your landscape from spring through summer.
Here are our top picks for the longest blooming azaleas.
Types Of Azaleas
1.
The leaves are dark green and turn burgundy in the fall.
This shrub grows to be about four feet tall and four feet wide.
Bloom-A-Thon Lavender Azalea is a great addition to any garden!
This shrub is easy to care for and is deer resistant.
It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Bloom-A-Thon Lavender Azalea is hardy in zones five through eight.
Despite its small size, Blue Tit Azalea is a real powerhouse when it comes to flower power!
Cascade Azalea (Rhododendron albiflorum)
Cascade Azalea is a native North American deciduous azalea.
The leaves of the Cascade Azalea are dark green and glossy.
The plant prefers acidic, well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade.
Cascade Azaleas are often used as ornamental plants in gardens.
Coast Azalea (Rhododendron Atlanticum)
Coast Azalea is a native plant to the southeastern United States.
It grows in areas with well-drained, acidic soils and full sun to partial shade.
Coast Azalea can grow up to 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide.
The blooms are white or pale pink and appear in late spring to early summer.
This shrub is an excellent choice for gardeners in USDA hardiness zones six through nine.
Coast Azalea is a low-maintenance shrub that does not require pruning.
This shrub is also deer and drought resistant.
Coast Azalea is an evergreen shrub, meaning it will keep its leaves all year long.
This azalea blooms in May and June, and its flowers come in white, pink, or purple.
The Cumberland Azalea grows best at elevations of up to 6000 ft.
It grows well on north-facing slopes, in ravines, and at high elevations.
The Cumberland Azalea can also be found growing in open areas such as balds and powerline clearings.
This hardy plant is native to China and has been widely cultivated in the United States.
Daviesii azaleas prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soils.
They can tolerate some sun, but too much sun can cause the leaves to scorch.
It is best to plant them in an area that gets partial shade to full sun.
Daviesii azaleas bloom in late spring to early summer (May to June in the Northern Hemisphere).
The flowers are white with a pink or purple tinge and are very showy.
They can also be used as specimen plants.
It is a hybrid of Rhododendron maximum and Rhododendron catawbiense.
The Delaware Valley White Azalea was introduced by the Delaware Valley Nursery in 1948.
The Delaware Valley White Azalea is a deciduous azalea that can grow to be 15 feet tall.
It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
The Delaware Valley White Azalea is hardy in zones five through eight.
It was introduced into the United States in 1963.
The plant grows to a height of 15 feet (457 cm).
The flowers are white with a yellow blotch and have an orange-yellow throat.
They are fragrant and appear in late May to early June.
This azalea is named for Else Frye, who was the wife of Harold Greer.
The couple owned and operated a nursery in North Carolina, where they bred many new cultivars of Rhododendron.
Else Frye is one of their most successful creations.
It is a hardy plant that is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions.
It is fully hardy, happy in sun or partial shade, and prefers moist well-drained soils.
This azalea is perfect for adding interest to spring borders, woodland gardens or rockeries.
It also makes an excellent container plant for patios and decking areas.
This will help to suppress weeds and keep the roots cool during hot summers.
It is a cross between Rhododendron Nova Zembla and Rhododendron Roseum Elegans.
The plant grows to a height of six feet and has a spread of four feet.
The leaves are dark green and the flowers are pink with a yellow throat.
This plant is hardy in zones five through eight.
The best time to prune this plant is after it blooms in the spring.
it’s possible for you to remove up to one third of the plant without damaging it.
This will help to keep the plant from getting too large for its space.
It is disease resistant and tolerant of both sun and shade.
This plant will bloom best if it gets six hours of sun per day.
The foliage is dark green and turns burgundy in fall.
It is an excellent choice for mass plantings, hedges or foundation plantings.
This azalea can reach a height of six feet and a width of four feet at maturity.
The flowers are usually orange or yellow, but can also be red or pink.
It is commonly known as Formosa Azalea or Indian Rhododendron.
The plant originates from the Himalayas in Nepal, India and Bhutan.
This azalea blooms in late spring with large clusters of pale pink flowers.
The Girards Rose Evergreen Azalea is a low-maintenance plant and is deer resistant.
The foliage is dark green and glossy, and the plant has an upright, rounded growth habit.
Golden Lights is a hybrid azalea that was bred for its cold hardiness and disease resistance.
The flowers are hot pink with orange throats.
The plant grows to about four feet tall and six feet wide.
Hot Shot Azalea is a hybrid azalea that was developed by Girard Nursery in Pennsylvania.
The nursery is no longer in business, but the plant is still available from some nurseries.
This azalea is a good choice for gardeners who want an evergreen azalea that blooms late in the season.
The plant does best in full sun or partial shade and needs well-drained soil.
Korean Azalea (Rhododendron yedoense var.
poukhanense)
This azalea is a native of Korea and is also known as the Korean Rhododendron.
It is a small evergreen shrub that grows to about five feet tall.
The leaves are dark green and glossy, and the flowers are white with a pink tinge.
The blooming period for this plant is mid-April to early May.
The Korean Azalea is an easy plant to grow and is very adaptable.
It prefers a sunny location but will tolerate some shade.
It is not particular about soil punch in as long as it is well-drained.
This plant is drought tolerant once it becomes established.
It does not need any special care or attention and can be left to grow on its own.
It can be used as an accent plant or in mass plantings.
This azalea has lovely, light lemon-yellow flowers that bloom in spring and summer.
The foliage is dark green and provides good coverage.
Lemon Lights Azalea is an easy-care plant that is low maintenance and drought tolerant once established.
Plant Lemon Lights Azalea in full sun or partial shade.
It will perform best in moist, well-drained soils but is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions.
The large, deep green leaves are accented by stunning orange-red flowers that appear in late spring.
This azalea is also great for attracting butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.
This azalea does best in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
It is relatively low maintenance and is deer resistant.
Mandarin Lights Azalea is a great choice for adding color and interest to the garden.
Nestucca Azalea (Rhododendron Nestucca)
Nestucca Azalea is one of the Pacific Northwests native evergreen azaleas.
It is a compact, dense shrub that typically grows to six feet tall and wide.
The dark green leaves are glossy and leathery, with small yellow-brown flowers blooming in late spring.
Nestucca Azalea is an excellent choice for hedges, screens, and foundation plantings.
It is also deer and rabbit resistant.
Nestucca Azalea prefers partial sun to dappled shade and moist, well-drained soils.
It is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, including clay.
Nestucca Azalea is drought tolerant once established.
Northern Hi-Lights Azalea (Rhododendron Northern Hi-Lights)
Northern Hi-Lights Azalea is a shrub that blooms in the spring.
The flowers are white with pink streaks and have a sweet fragrance.
This shrub is native to North America and can be found in woodlands, swamps, and bogs.
Northern Hi-Lights Azalea prefers acidic soils and full sun to partial shade.
This shrub is deer resistant and can reach a height of six feet.
Plant Northern Hi-Lights Azalea in your garden for springtime color and fragrance.
Pink-Shell Azalea (Rhododendron Vaseyi)
Pink-Shell Azalea is an evergreen shrub that blooms in May and June.
The flowers are pink or white, with the occasional bluish tinge.
This shrub prefers partial shade and acidic soil with good drainage.
It will tolerate full sun, but the leaves may scorch.
Pink-Shell Azalea is a slow grower and can reach a height of six to eight feet.
The Pink-Shell Azalea is named for Dr. Elisha Mitchell, who discovered it on Mount Mitchell in 1835.
It was introduced into cultivation in 1856 by John K.Small.
Today, Pink-Shell Azalea is a popular landscape plant in the southern United States.
It is often used as a foundation shrub or mass planted in woodland gardens.
The Pink-Shell Azalea is also a good choice for container gardening.
This shrub prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained, acidic soils.
It is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions but will not tolerate wet, soggy soils.
Royal Azalea should be pruned immediately after flowering to shape the plant and remove any dead or damaged branches.
Snow Azalea (Rhododendron Snow)
Snow Azalea is a beautiful, fragrant shrub that blooms in late spring.
It is native to the mountains of Japan and Korea, where it grows in cool, moist woods.
Snow Azalea has large, white flowers that are borne in clusters of five or six.
The beautiful white or pink flowers have a sweet fragrance and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
This deciduous shrub prefers moist soils and can be found growing in wetlands, bogs, and along streams.
Swamp azalea is a larval host plant for the Spicebush swallowtail butterfly.
This shrub does best in part shade to full sun and prefers acidic soils.
Sweet Azalea (Rhododendron Arborescens)
Sweet Azalea is a beautiful shrub that is native to North America.
It grows in the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia.
Sweet Azalea blooms in early summer with large, white flowers that have a sweet fragrance.
The leaves of the Sweet Azalea are dark green and glossy.
The shrub can grow to be six feet tall and wide.
This azalea is perfect for adding color and interest to your landscape.
Plant Variegated Gem Azalea in full sun to partial shade and provide it with well-drained soil.
This azalea is salt tolerant and can be used in coastal landscapes.
With its low maintenance requirements, Variegated Gem Azalea is a great choice for busy homeowners.
Encore Azaleas
Encore Azaleas are the perfect way to add color to your garden.
Encore azaleas are also easy to care for, making them a great option for beginner gardeners.
The flowers are white with a purple blotch, and the plant has good fall color.
It is hardy to USDA zone six.
This azalea was developed by Conlee Nursery in Georgia, and introduced into the trade in 1989.
It is a cross between Rhododendron Gibraltar and Rhododendron Hexe.
The plant grows to six feet tall and four feet wide, with an upright habit.
The leaves are dark green, glossy, and deciduous.
The flowers are borne in clusters of three to five, and are white with a purple blotch.
This azalea is best grown in full sun to partial shade, in an acidic, well-drained soil.
It is tolerant of heat and humidity, and is drought tolerant once established.
It does not like wet feet, and will not tolerate heavy clay soils.
Autumn Amethyst Encore Azalea is a good choice for a low maintenance landscape.
It can be used as an accent plant, in mass plantings, or as a hedge.
It is also suitable for growing in containers.
The flowers are a deep red color and the leaves turn a beautiful burgundy in the fall.
This azalea is perfect for adding color to your landscape all year long!
The flowers are white with pink tinges and have a sweet fragrance.
Autumn Debutante Encore Azalea is also resistant to deer and rabbits.
The flowers are a beautiful white with a lovely pink hue and they have a sweet fragrance.
This shrub is also heat tolerant and does well in partial shade to full sun.
This shrub will reach a height of four to five feet and a width of three to four feet.
It is a low-maintenance plant that is disease resistant.
The Autumn Angel Encore Azalea is hardy in zones six through ten.
This deciduous shrub has dark green foliage that turns bronze in the fall.
Autumn BelleTM Encore Azalea blooms pink flowers in the spring and summer, and orange-red flowers in the fall.
This tough shrub is heat and drought tolerant, as well as being resistant to deer and rabbits.
Plant Autumn Fire Encore Azalea in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil.
The flowers are white with a hint of pink and have a strong fragrance.
Its perfect for small gardens or as an accent plant in larger gardens.
This tough little azalea is heat and drought tolerant once its established, and its also deer resistant.
It prefers full sun to partial shade and acidic, well-drained soil.
Autumn Lilac Encore Azalea is hardy in zones six through nine.
It is a relatively low-maintenance plant, and it does not require much pruning or fertilizer.
The Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea blooms in late spring and then again in late summer to early fall.
It is a cross between the Kurume hybrid, Hino-crimson and the Ghent hybrid, Mystique.
It has medium green foliage and its flowers are white with a pink tinge.
Each jot down has its own unique set of characteristics that make it special.
With so many beautiful options available, youre sure to find the perfect azalea for you.
