Rhododendron ‘Girard’s Fuchsia’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, low hedges, mass plantings, and part-shade beds.
Benefits: An extremely winter-hardy Girard evergreen azalea with large, wavy, vivid fuchsia-purple flowers in late spring. Small, glossy leaves take on reddish tones in winter.
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: Vivid Fuchsia-Purple
Foliage Color: Glossy Olive-Green, taking on Reddish tones in winter
Mature Height: 2–4 feet
Mature Width: 3–5 feet
Bloom Season: Late spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Vivid fuchsia-purple that keeps the azalea season going after most have faded.
Girard’s Fuchsia is one of the boldest-colored Girard evergreen azaleas. In late spring it opens large, wavy-edged flowers in a saturated fuchsia-purple, a color strong enough to anchor a planting on its own and lively enough to pair with white azaleas, soft pink rhododendrons, or silver-leaved perennials. Because it blooms later than many azaleas, it extends spring color into the weeks when early bloomers are finished.
The foliage is small, glossy, and olive-green through the growing season, then takes on reddish tones as winter arrives, adding warmth to the garden through the cold months.
The plant forms a dense, compact mound about two to four feet tall and three to five feet wide, a manageable size for foundation beds, low hedges, and the front of woodland borders.
Girard azaleas were bred in northeastern Ohio with cold winters in mind, and this one is especially winter-tolerant, making it a good choice for Zone 5 gardens where many evergreen azaleas struggle. Give it partial shade or morning sun and acidic, well-drained soil.
Care
Girard’s Fuchsia Azalea Care
Plant in partial shade or a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. Some direct light keeps flowering heavy and deepens winter leaf color, while strong afternoon sun in summer can scorch leaves and bring lace bugs.
Give it acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. The shallow, fibrous roots dislike soggy ground, so in heavy clay, amend with compost and set the plant with the top of the root ball slightly above grade. Mulch with two to three inches of pine bark or shredded leaves, keeping it a few inches from the stems.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season and during dry spells after that. A deep watering in late fall, before the ground freezes, helps the evergreen leaves come through winter.
Feed lightly. One application of a slow release fertilizer for acid-loving plants, right after flowering, is plenty.
Next year's buds form in summer, so prune only right after bloom. The compact habit seldom needs more than removing an occasional stray branch. In exposed sites, shelter from drying winter wind keeps the foliage in better condition.
Size
What Size is the Girard’s Fuchsia Azalea for Sale Online?
Our Girard’s Fuchsia Azalea ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants shipped in fall or winter may show reddish winter tones on the leaves, which is normal for this azalea. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Girard’s Fuchsia Azalea Grow?
Expect about 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in a dense, rounded mound. Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart for a low hedge or mass planting.
Additional Information
What is a Girard azalea?
Girard azaleas are evergreen hybrids developed at Girard Nurseries in northeastern Ohio, bred for large flowers and for holding their leaves and buds through cold winters. See our full selection of Azaleas.
When does it bloom compared with other azaleas?
It flowers in late spring, after the early azaleas and many of the mid-season varieties have finished. Planting it alongside earlier bloomers stretches azalea color across several more weeks of the season.
Does the foliage change color in winter?
Yes. The small, olive-green leaves take on reddish tones in cold weather and return to green with new spring growth. A few older leaves may drop in fall, which is normal for evergreen azaleas. For more year-round foliage, browse our Evergreen Plants.
Is Girard’s Fuchsia Azalea deer resistant?
No. Deer browse azaleas, especially in winter. Where deer pressure is heavy, protect plants with fencing or a repellent, or choose from our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
