Trouper Azalea

The bright, crimson flowers of Trouper Azalea welcome the warmer days of spring, brightening any garden border. The giant 1 ½ inch flowers are guaranteed to make your yard a destination for various pollinators, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Often referred to as a Glenn Dale Hybrid, this azalea was specially bred in Maryland in conjunction with the USDA to bloom late and withstand the long cold winters in Washington DC and surrounding areas. Rhododendron ‘Trouper’ displays the cold hardiness of Kagaribi and the extra large flowers of Hinodegiri, its parent cultivars. 

The dainty but tough evergreen foliage creates a wonderful backdrop for spring bulbs, summer perennials, and annual bedding plants. Its slow-growing and spreading habit provides structure to foundation plantings or can define the borders of a woodland area when planted as a low-growing hedge. Pests, diseases, and damage from deer and rabbits are rarely an issue. 

Trouper Azalea Care

Azaleas prefer soil that is slightly acidic, fertile, and well draining. Choose a location that receives direct sun early in the morning or partial shade all day to prevent any leaf scorching or browning of the flowers. Ensure that azaleas planted near deciduous trees have protection during the winter months when they may be exposed to more sun. 

Annual mulching with organic compost or shredded leaves aids in moisture retention while suppressing weed growth. Keep azaleas well watered during the summer and fall when the next season's flower buds form. Fertilize with a slow-release formulation for acid-loving perennials and shrubs after flowering in the early summer. 

Pruning is seldom required to control the growth of Trouper Azalea. The slow-growing and mounded shape is naturally compact. Shearing of azaleas for topiary or formal hedging rarely results in good flowering and is not recommended, although azaleas make ideal subjects for bonsai and container growing. 

Often azaleas that do not bloom have been pruned at the wrong time of the year. All flowers are formed on the previous season's growth, so avoid pruning late in the winter or early spring. A light trim after flowering will keep the shrub neat while gently shaping the branches.

Trouper Azalea Spacing

The mature size for Trouper Azalea is a compact 4-5 feet high and wide. Plant multiple shrubs 36 inches apart, center on center, to create a dense low-growing hedge. Specimen plants can be spaced 48 inches or more apart to promote blooming all around the plant. Container-grown azaleas are great for decorating a front entryway or porch area. Choose a pot that has at least a 20-inch diameter. Pot-grown azaleas will grow slower than those in the landscape, while also requiring consistent watering and fertilizing.