Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
It is tough to beat Formosa Azalea flowers for their colorful appearance, shape, or as a draw for hummingbirds. The pinkish-lavender flowers open in spring, revealing a darker center of color. The showy color display rises above deep green and delicate leaves. As the shrub grows, the color show gets even larger, eventually filling the 8-foot tall azalea with big, deep pink-purple flowers perfect for an Asian-inspired garden or near a water feature.
Formosa Azalea foliage stays on the shrub through winter, even after flowers fade. The full shrub is an excellent addition to the landscape for winter color and privacy screens. And even though it grows tall, you can trim it back to as short as 4 feet to suit your screening needs. Massing several Formosa azaleas together creates a spring color explosion and plenty of winter green. This azalea can handle partial or full sun in most landscapes in zones 8 through 9.
Formosa Azalea Care
Formosa Azalea prefers soil that is acidic and likes regular watering. After planting, add a 2-inch layer of pine bark to help add some acid and keep soil moist (but leave some space around the lower trunk). You also can plant your azalea near pine trees or other deep-rooted trees, especially where it will get morning sun and afternoon shade. Water the plant more in peak heat and prune after the shrub is done blooming in late spring, adding a balanced azalea fertilizer.
Formosa Azalea Spacing
For a show stopping hedge, plant Formosa Azaleas about 4 feet apart from each plant's center; they grow to about 4 feet wide.
Formosa Azalea Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 8 to 9 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Shade to Part Sun (3-6 Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 6-8 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 5-6 Feet
- Growth Rate
- Moderate
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Purple
- Flower Description
- Purple-pink
- Bloom Time
- Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Winter Interest, 3 Season Interest, 4 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Formosa Azalea
- Botanical Name
- Azalea indica 'Formosa'
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
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