Group/Class:  Belgian Indica Azalea

Description:

Pretty pink, funnel shaped blooms cover this attractive, bushy shrub in late winter to early spring; ideal when massed in borders, foundation plantings, or low screening; absolutely must have well-drained, highly acidic and organic soil

Ornamental Features

Mamie Azalea is covered in stunning clusters of pink trumpet-shaped flowers with hot pink spots at the ends of the branches from late winter to early spring, which emerge from distinctive cherry red flower buds before the leaves. It has dark green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring. The small glossy oval leaves remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Mamie Azalea is an open multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Mamie Azalea is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Mamie Azalea will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in a location that gets morning sunlight but is shaded from the hot afternoon sun, although it will also grow in partial shade. Keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.