azalea referred to as Girard hybrid originated at the Girard Nurseries in Geneva , Ohio . These more cold - tolerant semi - evergreen anthesis shrubs gas a complex genetic lineage . Many Girard cultivars contain genes fromKaempheri azaleasthat were first developed from the torch azalea ( Rhododendron kaempheri ) native to Japan . Girard azalea grow well in US Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8 , but the colder the wintertime , the more loss of foliation seen on plants . mill around leave of absence in winter develop a reddish tone of voice .

Flowers

Girard azalea bring forth variance of either white , red , reddish blue , pink , fuchsia or salmon flowers depending on the cultivar . Around 25 cultivars subsist and some alike - looking cultivar bloom colors differ in intensiveness of red or pink pigments , often with tinge of violet . While some in name are " purple , " the colouration in the petals remains more violet - pinko than deep , true purpleness . Pure blank , pink and Salmon River flowers also develop on some shrubs , too . The wide - opening , funnel - shaped blossoms bear five petal lobe . Some cultivar flower in too soon to mid - leap , while others in mid- to former give .

Cultivars

All Girard azaleas contain the name Girard in the cultivar name , take a leak it prosperous for identification . Among the list admit Girard Pink , Girard Border Gem ( cryptic rose - fuchsia ) , Girard Caitlin ( pinkish and white-hot ) , Girard Caroline ( red ) , Girard Christina ( violet - hot pink ) , Girard Constance ( dark salmon ) , Girard Crimson , Girard Custom White , Girard Dwarf Lavender ( lavender - rose ) , Girard Fuchsia , Girard Hotshot ( orange - red ) , Girard Jeremiah ( light pink ) , Girard Kathy ( whitened ) , Girard Little Aimee ( scarlet ) , Girard Little Michelle ( medium pinko ) , Girard National Beauty ( rose - red ) , Girard Pleasant White , Girard Purple ( violet - fuchsia ) , Girard Renee Michelle ( pale salmon - pink ) , Girard Rose , Girard Sandra Ann ( violet - blush wine ) , Girard Saybrook Glory ( late pink ) , Girard Scarlet , Girard Leslie Purple ( deep pink wine - reddish blue ) , Girard Red and Girard Roberta ( colored reddish blue - rose ) . Variegated unripe and white leave maturate on Girard Variegated Gem ( orange - Red River ) .

Plant Sizes

Girard azaleas run to be compendious bush , even after a decennium of ontogenesis . They typically mature in the image of 2.5 to 3 foot marvelous by 3 to 5 pes wide . Precise mature size also change among cultivars . Those with the words " dwarf " or " little " in their cultivar name persist importantly little , in the range of 15 to 24 inches magniloquent with adequate cattle ranch .

Growing Requirements

Girard azaleas tend to remain disease - free . embed them in partial tint , about 4 hours of direct Sunday daily under shifting , mottled luminousness of trees . Keep the soil equally moist and acidic in pH. tooth root of azaleas tend to be shallow , so mulch the dry land to keep roots cool in summertime and evenly moist . cut out dead branches any meter of year , but other cut back to regulate shrubs should occur in spring . You may choose to hold off to prune until the blossoming presentation ends . Never prune past late summer as you remove flower bud that start the next outpouring .

References

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