Electric Lights™ Red Azalea

Colorful and cold hardy with massive spring color each year! Cold climates often put a damper on the dreams of gardeners wanting exotic colors and a unique feel. If we've just described you, then First Editions® Electric Lights™ Red Azalea (Rhododendron 'UMNAZ 633' PP33,787) might just be exactly the answer you've been looking for.

Solid fire engine red blossoms appear each spring. Like the rest of the Electric Lights™ series, this azalea blooms with fervent energy that lasts and lasts. You'll notice the ruffled petals lay on a bed of bright green leaves that create an eye-catching contrast. That is if you can tear your eyes away from the vibrant red long enough!

Are you convinced yet? We're ready to snatch these up ourselves!

Because it's such a giving plant, this deciduous shrub offers up a third season of interest. In the fall the leaves will turn bronze before retiring for the winter. Cut a couple of branches and add them to your indoor flower arrangements. It'll look delightfully daring in your kitchen or living room. Not to mention the blossoms smell oh so good!

There won't be a person walking by who won't stop to admire the brilliance of this Azalea. Bees and butterflies will adore these early spring nectar resources! Hummingbird lovers might also be surprised by a visit from their favorite fluttering bird as well. Electric Lights™ Red Azalea will have you checking the garden every single spring morning waiting for the profusion of scarlet to cover the shrub from top to bottom.

Planting and Application:

Let's get one thing clear, as long as this Azalea is visible, there is no wrong place to use it in your landscape design-wise. We promise! Plant a line of them as a border to your gardens and yards. In the spring they'll offer up a show you won't soon forget and for the remainder of summer, they'll make an attractive screen or hedge.

Pair with other plants that don't have a lot of spring color themselves. It'll be hard for them to compete with the excitement of Red Azaleas blooms. Instead, consider mixing it with Boxwoods or Butterfly Bushes!

By itself, it's hard to beat this hardy shrub as a centerpiece in your island plantings or patio gardens. Its size will also make it a great back-row plant for your perennial gardens. As the other flowers show off in the summer, Electric Lights™ Red Azalea will stay a steady green.

• Countless Fire Engine Red Blossoms
• Unique Feathery Bloom Texture
• Dependable Light Green Foliage
• Each Flower is Fantastically Fragrant & Great for Bouquet Clippings
• Rounded Growing Habit & Bronze Fall Color for Added Interest
• Attracts Hummingbirds, Bees & Butterflies
• Perfect for Borders, Screens, Specimens, Hedges & Focal Points

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Unlike some Azaleas, Electric Lights™ Red Azalea isn't bothered by the cold very much. It's been known to shrug off -30 degree temperatures and come back better than ever. The secret to keeping this bush happy is simple. Find a place where it can bask in the sun all day long and leave it be. It'll also tolerate part shade though if that's what you've got, it's not too picky.

Slightly acidic soil is best and would be much appreciated by your Rhododendron and Azalea will be ecstatic. The best time to prune is right after the shrub is done flowering for the season. That way you won't accidentally hurt next year's flower power.

You've probably heard it before, but adding a 3-4 inch thick layer of mulch is also always a great idea when planting. Azaleas are shallow-rooted shrubs and that mulch protects them beautifully! It keeps the moisture even and helps conserve water during the hot summer months. As an added bonus, it looks amazing!

Ensure your Azaleas receive a moderate amount of water on a regular basis. Weed around the base of these beautiful plants. Avoid growing groundcovers nearby, as the root system won't like competition. Apply a good, organic, slow-release fertilizer in early spring according to the label. Use a formula for flowering, acid-loving plants. Prune to shape after flowering is done. You can also plan ahead to determine which branches you'll clip, and take them early for indoor cut flower arrangements.

• Full Sun & Partial Shade
• Enriched, Slightly Acidic Well-Drained Soil
• Moderate Consistent Moisture Needs & Appreciates Mulched Beds
• Prune Immediately After Flower
• Cold-Hardy to -40 °F

Order one to be the next statement piece in your garden today! This isn't the kind of bush that stays in stock for long. Order your Electric Lights™ Red Azalea today at NatureHills.com before you have to wait another growing season!