Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Swamp Azalea may not be the most appealing name, but this stunning plant makes a beautiful addition to a yard or landscape. Trumpet-shaped flowers have narrow white to pink petals and appear from mid-June to July. Shiny green foliage has rounded ends and slightly curves at the midrib. The leaves turn a striking shade of red during the fall. Also known as Azalea viscosum, this plant thrives in damp conditions, making this an excellent perennial to feature in areas with poor drainage or prone to flooding.
Feature this shrub in beds, borders, or mass plantings. The Swamp Azalea has some height and features an upright, spreading growth habit, so it looks lovely as a border or natural divider. Since this plant can handle damp conditions, feature it along a wooded area, bog, or swampy area. Native to the eastern U.S., this plant grows as a perennial in USDA zones 4 through 8. Butterflies and hummingbirds feed on the sweet-smelling blooms.
Swamp Azalea Care
This plant needs full sun to partial shade, but the right location will have more shade than light. While this plant prefers consistently damp soil and can handle temporary flooding, it does not like permanent standing water. Soil should be rich, acidic, and moist but well-drained.
Deadhead the plant to encourage more prolific blooming. Azaleas maintain a pleasing shape naturally, but the plant can be trimmed as needed after the blooms die. Feed the plant using a balanced fertilizer in the spring. You can also test the soil to determine the pH and apply an acidic fertilizer if the soil pH is too high.
Swamp Azalea Spacing
Swamp Azalea will grow 8 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, making this upright shrub rather large. Create a hedge or mass planting by spacing shrubs 5 to 7 feet apart.
Swamp Azalea Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 5 to 8 (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 Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 2-3 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-4 Feet
- Growth Rate
- Slow
- Growth Habit
- , Mounded, Upright, Spreading
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Bloom Time
- Late Spring to Mid-Summer
- 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
- Glossy Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen, Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering, 3 Season Interest, Fall Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Swamp Azalea
- Botanical Name
- AZALEA VISCOSUM
- Plant Type
- Shrub
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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Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
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.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!