Rhododendron ‘Glendale Red’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, low hedges, mass plantings, and part-shade beds.
Benefits: An evergreen azalea with bright red flowers in spring on a dense, mounding shrub. Glossy dark green leaves keep foundation beds looking finished all year.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6–9
Sun: Partial Shade to Full Sun
Life Cycle: Broadleaf Evergreen Shrub
Growth Habit: Rounded, Mounding — dense and compact.
Bloom Color: Red
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Mature Height: 3–4 feet
Mature Width: 3–4 feet
Bloom Season: Mid-spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
True red flowers on a shrub sized for the front of the house.
Plenty of azaleas are sold as red but bloom closer to pink or orange. Glendale Red opens a clear, bright red in mid-spring, and the flowers come in heavily enough to cover the plant for a few weeks.
It stays compact, forming a dense, mounded shrub about three to four feet tall and wide. That size fits under most windows and along walks, and it works well as a low informal hedge or in a group of three or five at the corner of a bed.
After bloom, the glossy dark green leaves carry the plant through summer and winter, giving foundation plantings a finished look in every season. Red flowers also pair easily with white azaleas, ferns, and hostas in a shaded bed.
Care
Glendale Red Azalea Care
Plant in partial shade, ideally with morning sun and protection from hot afternoon sun. Bloom color holds best out of harsh midday light. 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 Glendale Red Azalea for Sale Online?
Our Glendale Red 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 Glendale Red Azalea Grow?
Expect about 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, in a dense, mounded shape. Space plants about 3 feet apart for a low hedge.
Additional Information
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.
Can I use it as a low hedge?
Yes. Its dense, compact habit and modest size make it a good informal hedge along a walk or foundation. Let it keep its natural mounded shape rather than shearing it hard, and do any trimming right after bloom. Browse more Azaleas.
Does it keep its leaves in winter?
Yes. It is an evergreen azalea and holds most of its glossy leaves year-round, though some older leaves drop each year as new ones grow. For more shrubs with winter foliage, see our Evergreen Plants.
What grows well with it?
Ferns, hostas, hellebores, and white or pale pink azaleas all suit the same partial shade and acidic soil. Small evergreen shrubs such as boxwood can give the bed structure after bloom. See our Shrubs & Bushes for more ideas.
