Herbert Azalea

Rhododendron x 'Herbert'

Nature Hills Nursery

Striking Purple-Fuchsia Blooms with Bold Red Blotch Center Attract Pollinators
Thrives in Zones 5-9
Showy Pink Blooms From Early Spring to Late Spring
Perfect for Border or Small groups
Pollinator-Friendly - Attracts Hummingbirds

$33⁸³

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Plant Size

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Aim for 4 to 6 hours of morning sun with dappled afternoon shade to keep the orchid purple blooms from fading. Too much direct midday sun can scorch the evergreen leaves and shorten the lifespan of the flowers.
Soil: These plants require acidic, well drained soil that is rich in organic matter like compost or peat moss. If you have heavy clay soil, plant the azalea in a raised mound to ensure the roots do not sit in stagnant water and rot.

Watering Requirements

Water your new Herbert Azalea two to three times a week during its first growing season to keep the soil consistently moist like a wrung out sponge. Once the root system is established, the plant becomes more resilient but still needs deep weekly soakings during summer dry spells. If watering is inconsistent, you may notice the plant dropping flower buds or exhibiting curled, stressed foliage.

Pruning Tips

This variety blooms on old wood, so you must prune immediately after the flowers finish in late spring. Giving the plant a light trim at this time encourages a bushier shape and gives the shrub plenty of months to develop the buds for next year. If you wait until late summer or autumn to prune, you will accidentally cut off all of next spring's floral display.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a slow release fertilizer designed for acid loving plants in early spring just as the new green growth begins to appear. Do not use high nitrogen fertilizers in late summer or fall because this triggers tender new growth that will be damaged by the first hard freeze. A single application in the spring provides the nutrients needed for both healthy leaves and vibrant blossoms.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Flowering, Evergreen, Attracts pollinators
Hardiness Zone	6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Sunlight	Partial shade
Height	2-4 ft
Width	3-4 ft
Watering Needs	High
Preferred Soil	Clay, Loamy, Peaty, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Bushy
Blooms In	Spring
Flower Color	Pink
Foliage Color	Green
Pet Safety	Toxic to pets
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Plant Name	Azalea
Botanical Name	Rhododendron x 'Herbert'
Species	x
Cultivar	Herbert
Class	Ericales, Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Does your landscape need a little pop of extravagance? People love hot-pinkish-purple flowering plants for their fun sense of energetic luxury!

The sizzling Herbert Azalea (Rhododendron x 'Herbert') features magnificent purple to fuchsia blooms, daubed with a showy red blotch at the center of each - like a bullseye for pollinators. Add their passion to your garden to help start your growing season off with a bang!

One of the incredible Gable Hybrids produced by Mr. Joseph Gable, Herbert Rhododendron, is a flowering evergreen selection that is very dependable. It's also wonderfully cold-hardy! Mr. Gable himself wasn't quite sure how to describe the hue of these reddish-purple flowers. He just knew he liked the color and that it really appealed to people. We'll call them magenta!

Order one today and you can see for yourself that they are absolutely stunning! In early spring, the vibrant blooms will stop you in your tracks! The flowers are born in trusses, and are simply magnificent and grow in a double layer called hose-in-hose, which gives the blooms twice the visual impact!

The trumpet-shaped blooms attract butterflies and beneficial pollinators with their rich nectar. Herbert Azalea will also keep the local hummingbirds busy as they migrate through in early spring.

Herbert isn't shy! These showy Azaleas are sometimes called Rhododendrons, but either way, they are definitely "neighbor-approved" and grow into a landscape asset. Bright green foliage will show off those bountiful blooms and remain steadfast all year long in warmer climates as broad-leaved evergreens to semi-evergreen. In cooler climates of USDA growing zones 5 to 9, Herbert is a hardy deciduous flowering ornamental shrub. in those colder zones, Herbert may only hold foliage on the branch tips and may be considered semi-evergreen in those colder areas!

Planting and Application:

Liven up your woodland garden with a grouping of Herbert Rhododendrons! There, they will soak up the dappled shade of the understory. They'll easily boost areas that seem to lack color or personality. Perfection as an anchor in a garden, or a focal point at the corner of your home's foundation planting.

Plant a row of Herbert Azaleas as a gorgeous hedge along your property boundary. Because it performs well in partial shade, this flowering shrub will also make a great addition to screening around seating areas, as backdrops to other garden beds, and accenting your existing fence line. Create outdoor rooms around your pool or patio and relax in the flowering screen these shrubs create!

Vibrant Purplish-Pink Flowers with Red Blotch
Sophisticated Semi-Evergreen to Broad-Leaved Evergreen Foliage
Excellent Performance
Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds
Naturally Rounded Habit
Broadleaved Evergreen - Semi-Evergreen in Colder Zones
Hedges, Specimens, Foundation Anchors & Early Spring Color!

#ProPlantTips for Care:

You'll want to plant the Herbert Azalea in partial shade and in well-drained, acidic soil for the best performance. They naturally prefer to grow in a mound of soil, so create a berm of enriched topsoil 1-2 feet over the native soil and plant into that mound. You can achieve this mounding effect by planting them in a shallow hole and leaving a couple of inches of the root ball above the ground, then covering up the roots with a thick layer of pine mulch, while avoiding the stem.

Either way, they always perform best with a 3-4 inch layer of mulch maintained over the roots. Provide a fertilizer geared for acid-loving plants and shrubs, and water regularly to keep their roots from drying out in times of need. Prune after flowering for best results.

Partial Shade & Exceptionally Cold Hardy
Thrives in Well-Drained Soil
Moist, Enriched, Acidic Soil
Prune After Flowering
Appreciates Thickly Mulched Beds

A stylish Rhododendron family member that brings bold color and excitement to your yard! The Herbert Azalea is an elegant garden ornamental with its frilly, hose-in-hose flowers. You deserve this magnificent plant. Order Herbert Azalea from our flowering shrub experts today at Nature Hills Nursery!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I care for the Herbert Azalea after planting, including watering needs?

Herbert Azaleas prefer consistent moisture but well-draining soil to prevent root rot. Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry, especially during hot summer months. Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around the base to retain moisture and keep roots cool in zones 5-9.

Is the Herbert Azalea evergreen or deciduous in colder zones?

In USDA zones 5-9, Herbert Azalea becomes deciduous in colder areas, though it may hold some foliage on branch tips as semi-evergreen. It only stays fully evergreen in warmer climates. Plan for seasonal leaf drop in northern gardens when shopping at Nature Hills.

Can I plant Herbert Azalea in clay soil, and what soil preparation is needed?

Herbert Azalea struggles in heavy clay soil and needs well-draining, acidic conditions to thrive in zones 5-9. Clay retains too much moisture and can cause root rot in these acid-loving shrubs. Amend clay areas with compost and peat moss to improve drainage before planting.

What is the bloom time and color for Herbert Azalea flowers?

Herbert Azalea blooms in early spring with vibrant magenta to fuchsia flowers featuring red blotches at the center. The trumpet-shaped blooms grow in a double "hose-in-hose" formation for extra visual impact. Plant in dappled shade for best flowering performance.

Can I grow Herbert Azalea in containers or indoors?

Herbert Azalea can be grown in large containers but isn't suited for indoor growing as it needs winter chill hours and outdoor conditions to bloom properly. In zones 5-9, container growing allows you to move the plant for winter protection. Use a well-draining acidic potting mix and shop at Nature Hills for healthy specimens.

Can Herbert Azalea be used as a low hedge or border plant?

Herbert Azalea works well as a colorful border plant with its vibrant magenta blooms and evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage in zones 5-9. The showy spring flowers and year-round structure make it an excellent choice for defining garden spaces. Plant in groupings for maximum impact in woodland or partially shaded areas.

Herbert Azalea

Rhododendron x 'Herbert'