Dwarf Azalea Varieties

A member of the Rhododendron family, azaleas come in hundreds of varieties, including many hybrids and cultivars. These slow-growing plants can live more than 20 years, and their heights vary greatly during their growth. Some can reach up to 12 feet tall, while the dwarf varieties may reach only 4 feet or less and the semi-dwarf varieties typically top out at 6 feet. They come in both evergreen and deciduous species and both produce fragrant and showy flowers.

Coast Azaleas

The coast azalea (Rhododendron atlanticum) is often simply called the "dwarf azalea." This deciduous shrub is native to the sandy soil on the coastland of the eastern United States. Its flowers come in shades of white, yellow and pink and provide not only showy flowers in spring, but also fall color. It grows up to 3 1/2 feet tall and prefers USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9.

Dwarf Indica

The dwarf indica azaleas (Rhododendron eriocarpum) are commonly known as the "gumpo" group of azaleas, containing both the gumpo and the pink gumpo. These evergreen plants grow low to the ground and their dense foliage makes them a good groundcover all year long. They grow in USDA hardiness zones from 6 to 8 and reach a mature height of about 2 feet, producing white or pink flowers in June and July.

Kurume Hybrids

The Kurume hybrids are dwarf or semi-dwarf azaleas first imported to the United States from Japan around 1915. They have dense, evergreen foliage and are more cold hardy than other azalea varieties. They prefer USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9. Kurume hybrids present a wide range of bloom colors, from white to orange, pink, red and even lavender. Some popular varieties are "Snow," "Flame," "Hexe," and "Pink Pearl."

Satsuki Hybrids

Introduced from Japan in 1938, the Satsuki azaleas reach a maximum height of about 4 feet, with an equal spread. Like the gumpos, they make excellent groundcover because of their low-growing nature. They're hardy in zones 7 to 9 and grow up to 3 feet high. Flowering from May until June, they produce showy blooms in a wide variety of colors, including some that are striped or multicolored. Popular varieties include "Higasa," "Shinnyo No Tsuki," and "Gunrei."

References

• North Carolina State University: Rhododendron Eriocarpum
• North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension: Azaleas for North Carolina
• Backyard Gardener: Rhododendron Atlanticum
• Alabama Cooperative Extension: Azaleas: Varieties: Hybrids and Native
• Gardening Central: Dwarf Azaleas
• Learn 2 Grow: Rhododendron Atlanticum

Resources

• Backyard Gardener: Rhododendron Satuki Hybrids