Azalea hybrid 'Girard's Crimson'

Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with its rich crimson blooms.

Foliage provides shelter for small songbirds and beneficial insects.

Deer tend to avoid azaleas due to mildly toxic foliage, though not completely deer-proof.

• Evergreen foliage year-round with a strong spring floral show.
  
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  Peak bloom: May (in most temperate zones).
  
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  Foliage interest: Year-round, especially in fall and winter when leaves bronze.
  

Woodland gardens, shaded borders, foundation plantings, mass plantings, naturalized or acid-soil gardens, mixed shrub beds

Evergreen to semi-evergreen depending on climate.

Leaves are elliptical, glossy, and leathery, about 1–2 inches long.

Deep green in summer, turning bronze or reddish-bronze in cold weather for seasonal contrast.

• Produces profuse, vivid crimson-red blooms in mid to late spring.
  
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  Flowers are funnel-shaped, about 2½ inches wide, with slightly ruffled edges and deep color saturation.
  
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  Blooms in dense clusters, creating an intense, show-stopping display.
  

Plant in spring or early fall when temperatures are mild to allow roots to establish before summer heat or winter cold.

Choose a site with well-drained, acidic soil (pH 4.5–6.0) enriched with organic matter such as pine bark or leaf mold.

Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Position the top of the root ball slightly above ground level to prevent rot.

Backfill with a mix of native soil and compost; water thoroughly to settle.

Apply a 2–3 inch layer of pine bark mulch around the base to maintain acidity and moisture, keeping mulch off the stem.

Minimal pruning required; prune immediately after flowering (late spring) to shape and remove spent blooms.

Avoid pruning in summer or fall as it removes next year’s flower buds.

Remove any crossing, damaged, or weak wood to maintain airflow and compact form.

Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.

Water deeply once or twice a week during dry spells, allowing topsoil to slightly dry between waterings.

Use rainwater if possible to maintain soil acidity and avoid lime build-up.

Prefers partial shade to dappled sunlight.

In cooler climates, can tolerate more morning sun, but protect from harsh afternoon light to prevent leaf scorch.

Too much shade may reduce flowering density, while too much sun may bleach the vibrant crimson blooms.

Primarily ornamental; not grown for harvest.

Occasionally produces small, inconspicuous seed capsules after flowering, though these are typically sterile.

• Fertilize lightly after flowering using an acid-loving plant fertilizer (e.g., azalea, camellia, or rhododendron formula).
  
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  Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that encourage foliage at the expense of blooms.
  
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  Apply granular fertilizer in early spring and again mid-summer, followed by deep watering.
  
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  Maintain soil acidity by occasionally adding elemental sulfur or iron sulfate if leaves show yellowing (chlorosis).
  

Flowers are entomophilous (insect-pollinated)—bees, butterflies, and other small pollinators are the main agents.

Being a hybrid, it does not require cross-pollination for ornamental value and rarely produces viable seed.

Companion shrubs: Rhododendrons, Pieris japonica, Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel), and Leucothoe.

Perennials and groundcovers: Ferns, Heuchera, Hosta, Tiarella, or Ajuga for a woodland setting.

Evergreen structure plants: Ilex crenata, Buxus microphylla, and dwarf conifers (like Thuja occidentalis ‘Danica’).

Flowering partners: Hydrangea macrophylla and Camellia japonica for layered bloom seasons.