Rhododendron ‘Girard’s Christina’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, low hedges, mass plantings, and part-shade beds.
Benefits: A cold-hardy Girard evergreen azalea with deep rose-red flowers in spring. The glossy leaves take on mahogany tones in winter, and the plant forms a broad, rounded mound.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8
Sun: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded, Mounding — dense and compact.
Bloom Color: Deep Rose-Red
Foliage Color: Glossy Dark Green, taking on Mahogany tones in winter
Mature Height: 2–4 feet
Mature Width: 3–5 feet
Bloom Season: Mid to late spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Deep rose-red flowers in spring and glossy leaves that warm to mahogany in winter.
Girard’s Christina comes from the Girard azalea program in Ohio, which set out to give northern gardeners evergreen azaleas they could grow with confidence in zone 5. In mid to late spring it bears deep rose-red flowers in such numbers that the shrub becomes a dome of color for a few weeks.
The foliage earns its place after the flowers are gone. The small, glossy leaves stay dark green through summer, then take on mahogany tones as the weather turns cold, giving a foundation bed or woodland edge warm color through the winter months.
The plant forms a broad, rounded mound two to four feet tall and up to five feet across, a shape that fills the space under windows and along walks with little shaping.
Care
Girard’s Christina Azalea Care
Morning sun with afternoon shade, or bright filtered light under tall trees, gives the best balance of flowers and healthy leaves. Full sun is tolerated where the soil stays evenly moist, though leaves may scorch and lace bugs are more common. Deep shade means fewer flowers.
Plant in acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Mix compost or pine bark into the planting area, avoid spots where water stands after rain, and set the plant so the top of the root ball is slightly above the surrounding grade.
The fine, shallow roots dry out quickly, so water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season and during dry spells in later years. Keep a two-to-three-inch layer of pine bark or leaf mulch over the root zone, and give plants a thorough soaking in late fall before the ground freezes.
Feed lightly right after flowering with a slow release fertilizer, or skip feeding altogether if the plant is growing well.
Prune only right after the flowers fade, since next spring’s buds form by midsummer. In zone 5, a site out of strong winter wind helps the leaves and buds come through cold spells in good condition.
Size
What Size is the Girard’s Christina Azalea for Sale Online?
Our Girard’s Christina Azalea ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. As an evergreen, it keeps most of its leaves through the off-season, and in cold weather they may already show their winter tones. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Girard’s Christina Azalea Grow?
Plan on about 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in a broad, rounded mound. Space plants 3 to 4 feet apart for a low hedge or massed planting.
Additional Information
What are Girard azaleas?
They are azaleas bred at Girard Nurseries in Geneva, Ohio, where the goal was evergreen and deciduous azaleas that could handle colder winters than most. Girard’s Christina is one of several “Girard’s” selections from that program. See more in our Azaleas collection.
Why do the leaves change color in winter?
Cold weather brings out red pigments in the leaves of many evergreen azaleas. On this selection the glossy green foliage takes on mahogany tones through winter, then greens up again as growth resumes in spring. It is a natural seasonal change, not a sign of stress. Explore more Evergreen Plants.
Is an azalea a rhododendron?
Yes. All azaleas are in the genus Rhododendron. The name azalea is generally used for the smaller-leaved, finer-textured types, and Girard’s Christina is a small-leaved evergreen azalea.
Do deer eat azaleas?
Yes, and especially in winter. Where deer browse heavily, plan on fencing or repellents, or look at alternatives in our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
