MANDARIN LIGHTS AZALEA

3 gallon

$44.19

AZALEA X 'MANDARIN LIGHTS'

$44.19

The Mandarin Lights Azalea is a show-stopping member of the Northern Lights series, celebrated for its extreme cold hardiness and vibrant personality. Before the leaves even emerge in the spring, this shrub erupts in a massive display of brilliant, mandarin-orange trumpet-shaped flowers that carry a light, sweet fragrance. Its upright, mounded habit and olive-green summer foliage provide a structured look in the landscape, culminating in a dramatic transformation to burgundy-purple tones in the fall. This is the perfect choice for gardeners in cooler climates who want the exotic look of a tropical orange bloom without the winter worry.

Quick Facts

Mature Height	4-6 feet
Mature Spread	4-6 feet
Grow Zone	USDA Zones 3-7
Bloom Time	Mid-Spring (April-May)

Plant Care

Will this plant thrive in your climate?

Make sure you live within USDA Zones 3-7 by checking our Grow Zone Guide.

Select a location with acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Ensure the top of the root ball is slightly above the soil line to prevent crown rot. Amend native soil with peat moss or pine bark to maintain a low pH.

This variety requires very little maintenance. If shaping is necessary, prune immediately after flowering in late spring. Avoid pruning in late summer or fall, as you will remove the buds set for next year's spectacular orange display.

Apply an acid-loving plant fertilizer (like Holly-tone or a similar rhododendron-specific blend) in early spring before new growth begins. You may repeat a light feeding after the blooms fade, but stop all fertilizing by mid-July to allow the plant to harden off for winter.

While exceptionally cold-hardy, young plants benefit from a thick layer of mulch (2-4 inches) around the base to protect the shallow root system. In very exposed or windy sites, a burlap screen can prevent winter desiccation of the stems.

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