Rhododendron ‘Girard’s Renee Michelle’
Overview
Uses: Foundation plantings, low hedges, mass plantings, and part-shade beds.
Benefits: A cold-hardy Girard evergreen azalea with glowing deep pink flowers, speckled hot pink, in mid to late spring. Glossy, dark green leaves cover a broad, dense shrub.
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 Pink with Hot Pink spots
Foliage Color: Glossy Dark Green
Mature Height: 2–3 feet
Mature Width: 3–5 feet
Bloom Season: Mid to late spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
Deep pink flowers with a little extra spark, on an azalea built for northern winters.
Renee Michelle is one of the Girard evergreen azaleas, a group bred in northeastern Ohio for gardens where winter regularly drops well below freezing. In mid to late spring it covers itself in deep pink flowers, each one flecked with darker hot pink speckling on the upper petals. From a distance the shrub glows pink; up close, the speckling gives each bloom a layered, detailed look.
The timing is useful, too. It opens after the earliest azaleas have finished, extending the azalea season in a planting that mixes early and late varieties.
The plant grows wider than it is tall, building into a broad, dense mound about two to three feet high and three to five feet across. Glossy, dark green leaves cover it through the year, so it keeps the front of a bed or the base of a house looking finished in every season.
It does best in morning sun and afternoon shade or the bright, filtered light under high trees, alongside other acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons, mountain laurel, and ferns.
Care
Renee Michelle Azalea Care
Plant in partial shade or where the shrub gets morning sun and protection from strong afternoon sun. A few hours of direct light keeps flowering heavy; hot, all-day sun can scorch the leaves and encourage lace bugs.
Give it acidic, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Azalea roots are fine and shallow and suffer in soggy ground, so in clay, amend generously with compost or set the plant with the top of its root ball slightly above grade rather than burying it. Mulch with two to three inches of pine bark or shredded leaves, kept back from the stems, to hold moisture and keep the roots cool.
Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season. The shallow roots dry out faster than those of most shrubs, so continue watering during dry stretches even after the plant is established, and give it a deep soaking in late fall before the ground freezes.
Fertilize lightly. One application of a slow release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants, applied after bloom, is enough for the year.
Flower buds for next spring form during summer, so prune, if at all, right after flowering ends. The natural shape rarely needs more than a light tidy. Shelter from harsh winter wind helps keep the evergreen leaves in good condition.
Growing in Containers
Its low, spreading habit works well in a wide patio container. Choose a pot with drainage holes and a potting mix suited to 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 Renee Michelle Azalea for Sale Online?
Our Renee Michelle 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 are past bloom and may show some bronzing on older leaves, which is normal. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Renee Michelle Azalea Grow?
Expect about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in a broad, rounded mound. Space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart for a continuous low hedge or mass planting.
Additional Information
What is a Girard azalea?
Girard azaleas are a group of evergreen azalea hybrids developed at Girard Nurseries in northeastern Ohio. They were bred for colder winters than many older azalea groups tolerate, while keeping large, bright flowers and glossy foliage. See our full selection of Azaleas.
What do the flowers look like up close?
Each flower is deep pink, with darker hot pink speckling concentrated on the upper petals. The speckling is subtle from a distance, where the shrub reads as solid pink, and becomes the main feature when you see the blooms along a walkway or near a door.
Will the leaves stay on through winter?
Yes, for the most part. Like other evergreen azaleas, it holds most of its leaves through winter; a few older leaves may yellow and drop in fall, which is normal. Shelter from strong winter wind keeps the remaining foliage looking its best. Browse more year-round color in our Evergreen Plants.
Is Renee Michelle Azalea deer resistant?
No. Deer browse azaleas, particularly in winter. Where deer are common, protect plants with fencing or a repellent, or choose from our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
