Red Formosa Azalea

Red Formosa Azalea (Azalea indica ‘Formosa’) delivers a spring spectacle of large 3‑ to 4‑inch blooms colored deep fuchsia with plum freckles, cloaking the shrub from tip to toe. The evergreen foliage keeps gardens looking dressed year‑round, then provides a dark canvas for the blossoms each March–April. Reaching 6–8 feet tall yet only 4–6 feet wide, this Southern Indica hybrid supplies quick privacy without overwhelming narrow beds. Few azaleas match its tolerance of sun and summer heat, making it a dependable choice for warm‑climate borders and foundation plantings.

Native to the subtropical woodlands of Asia, Red Formosa forms an upright, rounded mass that resists deer browsing and handles humid Gulf Coast summers with ease. Butterflies visit the open throats of every flower, while the dense limbs give small birds shelter. Use a single plant as a focal accent, weave a glowing hedge beneath pine canopies, or fill large pots along shaded patios where the color show meets the eye at close range. The shrub’s moderate growth and low pest pressure keep maintenance to a minimum once roots are established.

Red Formosa Azalea Care

Plant in acidic soil (pH 4.5–6.5) enriched with pine bark or leaf mold; avoid heavy clay unless raised beds provide drainage. The finest flower display comes with morning sun and dappled afternoon shade, though the plant accepts sites from bright filtered light to half‑day sun. Keep the root zone consistently moist the first year, then water during dry spells; a 3‑inch pine‑needle mulch conserves moisture and buffers summer heat. Feed just after bloom with a slow‑release, sulfur‑coated fertilizer labeled for azaleas and camellias.

Shear or pinch immediately after the last flower petals drop to shape and to encourage new bud set; avoid summer pruning, which removes developing buds for the next season. Remove the occasional crossing branch with a thin, inside cut, but leave interior twigs for natural density. Container specimens overwinter outdoors in Zones 8–9; in colder regions slide pots into an unheated garage once temperatures dip below 20 °F.

Red Formosa Azalea Spacing

For a solid evergreen screen, plant each azalea 4–5 feet on center; give 8–10 feet between shrubs when using as accents in mixed borders. A single juvenile plant fills a 15‑gallon container; shift to a 24‑inch wide pot after three seasons to maintain root health and floral performance.

Red Formosa Azalea Information