Rhododendron ‘Hino Crimson’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, low hedges, mass plantings, and part-shade beds.
Benefits: A classic Kurume evergreen azalea that smothers itself in small, brilliant crimson-red flowers in spring. The small, glossy leaves turn reddish-bronze in winter on a dense, compact shrub.
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: Crimson Red
Foliage Color: Glossy Dark Green, turning Reddish-Bronze in winter
Mature Height: 2–3 feet
Mature Width: 3–4 feet
Bloom Season: Spring
Growth Rate: Slow
Summary
When it blooms, you can barely see a leaf.
Hino Crimson is a Kurume azalea, part of a group of compact Japanese evergreen azaleas known for flowers that are small but so plentiful they cover the plant. In spring, nearly every branch tip opens into clusters of bright crimson-red blooms, and for a couple of weeks the whole mound reads as one solid block of color from across the yard.
The shrub underneath is just as tidy. Small, glossy leaves pack tightly along fine branches, forming a low, dense mound about two to three feet tall and a little wider. It grows slowly, which keeps it in scale along a foundation, beneath windows, or at the front of a shady border for years.
Because it is evergreen, it stays part of the garden long after the flowers drop. The foliage is deep, polished green through summer, then takes on reddish-bronze tones as temperatures fall and carries that color through winter before greening up again in spring.
It is happiest in the kind of light found under tall trees or on the east side of a house: morning sun, bright dappled shade, and shelter from the hottest part of the afternoon.
Care
Hino Crimson Azalea Care
Plant in partial shade or a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. More sun brings heavier flowering, but leaves in hot afternoon sun can scorch and attract lace bugs, while deep shade cuts down on blooms.
Azaleas need acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Their roots are fine and shallow and do not tolerate standing water, so in heavy clay, work in plenty of compost or plant with the top of the root ball slightly above the surrounding soil. Never bury the stems deeper than they grew in the pot. A two-to-three-inch layer of pine bark or shredded leaves keeps the roots cool and moist; keep it a few inches away from the stems.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season. Because the roots stay near the surface, established plants still need water during dry spells. A thorough soaking in late fall, before the ground freezes, helps the evergreen leaves come through winter in better shape.
Feeding needs are light. One application of a slow release fertilizer suited to acid-loving plants, right after flowering, is plenty.
Hino Crimson sets next year's flower buds in summer, so do any shaping right after the blooms fade. Pruning later in the season removes those buds. Most years it needs nothing more than removing a stray or damaged branch. In Zone 6, a site sheltered from strong winter wind and sun helps prevent leaf browning.
Growing in Containers
Its slow growth and compact size suit a patio container or window-side planter. Use a pot with drainage holes and a potting mix made for acid-loving plants. Container plants dry out faster than plants in the ground, so check moisture often in warm weather, and feed lightly each spring, since frequent watering washes nutrients out of the mix. 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 Hino Crimson Azalea for Sale Online?
Our Hino Crimson 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-bronze winter foliage, which is normal for this azalea. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Hino Crimson Azalea Grow?
Expect about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, in a dense, rounded mound. Because it grows slowly, it can take several years to reach full size. Space plants about 3 feet apart for a continuous low hedge or mass planting.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
It is also sold as Hinocrimson or Hino-Crimson azalea, and as a Kurume azalea it is often grouped with the evergreen or Japanese azaleas.
How is it different from other red azaleas?
Kurume azaleas carry smaller flowers than the larger-flowered Gable and Girard hybrids, but many more of them, so the effect is a solid sheet of color rather than individual clusters. Hino Crimson is one of the most popular red Kurumes, valued for its clear crimson color and its compact, slow-growing habit. See our full selection of Azaleas.
Why do the leaves turn red in winter?
Cold temperatures and bright winter light bring out reddish pigments in the leaves. The color change is normal and is not a sign of stress; the foliage turns green again as new growth starts in spring. For more shrubs that hold their leaves year-round, browse our Evergreen Plants.
Is Hino Crimson Azalea deer resistant?
No. Deer browse azaleas, especially in winter when other green food is scarce. In areas with heavy deer pressure, protect plants with fencing or a repellent, or consider options from our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
