Rhododendron ‘Glamour’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, woodland edges, mass plantings, and part-shade beds.
Benefits: A Glenn Dale evergreen azalea that covers itself in rosy red flowers in mid-spring. Glossy foliage takes on burgundy tones in winter, so it looks good long after the bloom.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6–9
Sun: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded, Mounding — dense and full.
Bloom Color: Rose-Red
Foliage Color: Dark Green, with Burgundy tones in winter
Mature Height: 4–5 feet
Mature Width: 4–5 feet
Bloom Season: Mid-spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A sheet of rosy red that lights up the shade in spring.
Glamour comes from the Glenn Dale azaleas, a group bred at the USDA Plant Introduction Station in Glenn Dale, Maryland, to combine large flowers with better cold tolerance than the tender southern azaleas. It was introduced in the 1940s and is still grown because it does exactly what a landscape azalea should: it blooms heavily and reliably.
In mid-spring the plant disappears under rose-red flowers for a few weeks, bright enough to carry across a yard and soft enough to sit beside pinks and whites. After bloom, the glossy dark green leaves fill back in to make a dense, rounded shrub about four to five feet tall and wide.
Cold weather brings a second, quieter show. The foliage picks up burgundy tones through winter, so the plant keeps adding color to a foundation bed or woodland edge long after the flowers are gone.
Care
Glamour Azalea Care
Plant in partial shade, ideally with morning sun and protection from hot afternoon sun. Dappled light under tall trees suits it well. It tolerates more sun in cooler areas, but full afternoon sun in hot climates can scorch leaves and encourage lace bugs.
Azaleas need acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Work compost or shredded pine bark into the planting area, and avoid heavy clay that stays wet, since the fine roots rot in soggy ground. Set the plant so the top of the root ball sits slightly above the surrounding soil.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season. Azalea roots are shallow, so a two-to-three-inch layer of pine bark or pine needle mulch helps keep them cool and moist. Established plants still appreciate a soaking during dry spells.
Feed lightly after flowering with a slow release fertilizer made for acid-loving plants. Heavy feeding is not needed and can push soft growth.
Prune, if needed, right after the flowers fade. Azaleas set next year’s flower buds by mid to late summer, so pruning later in the season removes next spring’s bloom.
Growing in Containers
Azaleas grow well in large containers on a shaded patio or porch. Use an acidic potting mix in a pot with drainage holes, water whenever the top inch of mix feels dry, and feed lightly in spring, since frequent watering washes nutrients out. Roots in containers experience greater cold exposure than roots in the ground. Plants hardy in the ground may require winter protection when grown in containers in colder zones.
Size
What Size is the Glamour Azalea for Sale Online?
Our Glamour Azalea ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Evergreen foliage stays on through shipping, though leaves may show some winter bronzing in the off-season. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Glamour Azalea Grow?
Expect about 4 to 5 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in a dense, rounded form. Space plants about 4 feet apart for a continuous mass planting.
Additional Information
What is a Glenn Dale azalea?
The Glenn Dale azaleas are a large group of evergreen hybrids developed by B.Y. Morrison at the USDA station in Glenn Dale, Maryland, in the 1930s and 1940s. They were bred for large, showy flowers and better winter hardiness than older southern types. Browse more Azaleas.
What is the difference between an azalea and a rhododendron?
All azaleas belong to the genus Rhododendron. Gardeners generally use “azalea” for the types with smaller leaves, more twiggy growth, and funnel-shaped flowers, and “rhododendron” for the larger-leaved types with big flower trusses.
Does it keep its leaves in winter?
Yes. It is an evergreen azalea, so it holds most of its leaves year-round, and the foliage takes on burgundy tones in cold weather. For more shrubs that keep their foliage, see our Evergreen Plants.
Will deer eat it?
Deer do browse azaleas, especially in winter when other food is scarce. In gardens with heavy deer pressure, plan on repellents or fencing, or choose from our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
