Growing Azaleas

Azaleas are a favorite in the South.  Spring is aglow with their flowers and they serve as an evergreen shrub for the other weeks of the year all through the winter.  

Options:

Southern Indicas are a good choice in the lower south.  They can survive temperatures down to 10 degrees and grow tall and fast. Indicas are available in a variety of colors and can grow up to 6 feet tall.  If you are looking for a flowering, evergreen screen plant, this is the one.
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Rutherford azaleas are bushy compact shrubs that are hardy down to 20 degrees.  Red Ruffles and Pink Ruffles are favorite Rutherfords.

Kurumes are one of the most common azaleas.  These plants are hardy down to 5 degrees.  Kurumes feature dense growth and small shiny leaves and reach an average height of 4 feet.  The most popular color is coral bell pink.  Other colors include Hershey's Red, Hinodegirl (fushsia pink) and Sherwood Red, which is an orange/red.

Satsuki azaleas can grow hardy down to 5 degrees.  These azaleas are low growing, late blooming and good for ground cover.  Colors include Gumpo White, Gumpo Pink, Macrantha Pink, Macrantha Red and Wakebisu(salmon).

Glenn Dale azaleas can survive in areas down to 0 degrees and heights can vary and multiple colors are available including Aphrodite (pale pink), Copperman (orange/red), Everest (white), Fashion (salmon/pink) and Glacier which is a white.

Azaleas like moist, acid (ph 5.5)  well drained soil that contains lots of organic matter. They will not grow in clay, sand or alkaline soils.

Other tips:

1.  Do not plant to deep or your plant will decline immediately.

2.  If your soil is heavy clay, break it up and mix with top soil before planting.  You may also do better with a raised bed.

3.  Mulch your azaleas and water regularly to get established.

4.  Plant where the azaleas will receive dappled light through the day or morning sun with partial evening shade.