Christina Marie Azalea

Christina Marie Azalea (Azalea × Girard’s ‘Christina’) delivers a late‑spring show of double, rose‑red flowers that sweep across each rounded shrub until foliage is almost hidden. Bloom trusses measure a full three inches, and the plant’s compact frame—generally 3 to 4 feet tall—keeps color right at eye level. Thick, glossy leaves emerge light green, deepen through summer, then shift to mahogany tones when temperatures fall, guaranteeing off‑season appeal. Gardeners in USDA Zones 5–8 value this selection for reliable bud set after cold winters and its proven performance in Mid‑Atlantic and Great Lakes landscapes.

Native azalea genetics give Christina Marie a dense, mounded habit that needs no coaxing to maintain form. Leaves persist year‑round, so the plant plays nicely as evergreen structure among later‑blooming perennials. Once established, the root system tolerates moderate drought; deer usually pass it by; and lace bugs and leaf gall are rarely an issue when soil is slightly acidic. Use it to edge shade paths, build a low hedge along property lines, or anchor containers on a dappled‑sun patio—anywhere a punch of spring crimson is welcome.

Christina Marie Azalea Care

Set plants in humus‑rich, well‑drained ground with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0; incorporate pine bark fines to boost drainage in clay. Morning sun with afternoon shade or all‑day high canopy light produces the heaviest bloom and prevents leaf scorch. Keep soil evenly moist to establish a strong root system, and then water only during extended dry spells; a two‑inch pine‑needle mulch conserves moisture and suppresses weeds. Feed in early March with a slow‑release, acid‑loving shrub fertilizer, following label rates.

Light shaping is best completed within three weeks after flowering—remove spent trusses and trim back wayward shoots to a leaf whorl. Avoid hard pruning into bare wood, as azaleas regenerate slowly; instead, thin one or two of the oldest interior stems to the base every few years to rejuvenate the canopy. Container specimens should overwinter outdoors in Zone 7‑8; in colder zones, shift pots to an unheated garage and water sparingly until spring thaw.

Christina Marie Azalea Spacing

For a continuous hedge, plant each azalea 30 to 36 inches apart on center; allow 48 inches between shrubs when using them as punctuation in mixed borders. Single specimens thrive in containers at least 16 inches across and deep, filled with a peat‑based, acidic potting mix.

Christina Marie Azalea Information