Texas Azalea

Rhododendron oblongifolium

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 3-5′

Width at Maturity: 3-5′

Spacing: 3′ for solid hedges; 8’+ for space between plants

Flower Color: White

Flower Size: 2″

Flowering Period: Spring / Early Summer

Flower Type: Single, Trumpet-shape

Fragrant Flowers: Yes!

Foliage Color: Medium Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Part to Mostly Shade, Dappled Shade, Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 4.5 – 6.5 (Acid to Slightly Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Heat, Humidity, Insect, Shade

Description

Occurring in boggy areas near woodland streams and in sandy light soils in pine forests in East Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, the Texas Azalea produces fragrant, funnel-shaped white flowers with white or pink styles tipped in golden-orange. That said, this beauty will grow in any area within USDAZones 7a-9b in well drained moist soil with shade to part sun. A good season extender, this one blooms a bit later in spring than most other deciduous Rhododendron species. It has smooth green leaves on a mounding and spreading shrub ranging from 3 to 5 feet in height with an equal width. Great for woodland gardens!

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 3 to 5 feet tall and equally as wide, the Texas Azalea is ideal for use as a specimen or in groupings in woodland borders, near streams or other areas of the landscape that provide moist but well-drained soils rich in organic matter and shade to part shade. Avoid direct afternoon sun. A fine selection for fragrance gardens, Azalea gardens, woodland gardens, white theme gardens, and cottage gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 3 to 4 feet for hedge or grouping; 8 feet or more for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a, where this Rhododendron variety is not reliably winter hardy, you can enjoy it in containers that can be moved indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

The Texas Azalea is easy to grow in moist but well-drained soil of average to high fertility and part shade. Some suggest full sun tolerance throughout the zones where it is listed hardy, however, we always like to play it safe and provide a break from from direct sunlight during the mid afternoon hours. Native azaleas are very low-maintenance, requiring little if any pruning. That said, occasionally we might prune a stray branch that is spoiling the natural form of the plant.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, prune, fertilize and water native azaleas.

How To Plant & Care For Native Azaleas

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