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Caroline Azalea

Rhododendron 'Caroline'

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Caroline Azalea (Rhododendron 'Caroline') at Roger's Gardens

Caroline Azalea flowers

Caroline Azalea flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  4 feet

Spread:  4 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  5a

Other Names:  Caroline Girard Azalea, Evergreen Azalea

Group/Class:  Girard Hybrid

Description:

An extremely hardy variety with stunning deep red blooms in mid-spring, and exceptionally nice dark green foliage, creating an impressive border or low screen; absolutely must have well-drained, highly acidic and organic soil

Ornamental Features

Caroline Azalea is covered in stunning clusters of crimson trumpet-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive dark red flower buds. It has attractive dark green foliage with hints of black which emerges light green in spring. The glossy narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Caroline Azalea is an open multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Caroline Azalea is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Caroline Azalea will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight Soil pH Preference
Characteristics
Accent  Massing  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Winter Value 
Ornamental Features