Herbert Azalea

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-4 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 9

Reddish-purple flowers dazzle in mid-spring, making the Herbert Azalea or Rhododendron 'Herbert' a focal point. The trumpet-shaped flowers are full and frilly and are so numerous that the entire shrub is covered during April. As a broadleaf evergreen, this azalea maintains its foliage all year, providing some greenery in a winter landscape.

At a few feet tall, this shrub makes an excellent low hedge that defines a space without blocking sightlines. Add a border along a driveway or walkway, or outline a deck or outdoor entertaining space. The foliage stays in place year-round, so the hedge will always be green. Pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds frequent the flowers. Grow the Herbert Azalea in zones 4 through 8.

Herbert Azalea Care

Plant this shrub in part shade; morning sun and afternoon shade are an ideal arrangement. Herbert Azalea prefers fertile, acidic soil that is moist and well-drained. Keep the soil damp but not soggy. Water during a dry spell to support flowers and next year’s buds. Apply a slow-release fertilizer in the spring. Test the soil and use an acidic fertilizer if appropriate.

Prune and shape the plant as needed after the flowers fall but before new buds appear. Azaleas have a shallow, fibrous root system, so do not plant low plants or ground cover underneath the shrub. Apply a thick layer of mulch about 6 inches out from the trunk to retain moisture and protect the roots.

Herbert Azalea Spacing

Herbert Azalea shrubs have a rounded, balanced shape, and reach 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Space shrubs as close as 2 feet apart to create a hedge.