Gibraltar Azalea

Flaming orange delight! Set your garden ablaze! Well, not literally. But with the Gibraltar Azalea (Rhododendron 'Gibraltar') you can emulate the warm tones each spring! Each spring, you'll be greeted with a profusion of frilled bright orange flowers. Catch it in the morning light and you might think your shrub has ignited itself!

If you somehow tear your eyes away from the charming funnel-shaped flowers, you'll see the bed of medium-green foliage beneath. They contrast with the blossoms perfectly! During the summer this shrub is going to attract more than jealous neighbors. Expect to find your fair share of beneficial pollinators like butterflies fluttering about. If you're lucky, you might even see a Hummingbird or two!

Not only has Gibraltar been given the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society, but it also has an American Rhododendron Society Rhododendron of the Year award under its botanical belt! The experts had it exactly right when giving out prestigious titles, this deciduous shrub is a sight to see for sure.

Planting and Application:

Altogether, you have the perfect easy-to-grow bush for borders and flowering hedges. If you aren't working with endless amounts of space, you can also plant these in containers on the patio or on either side of your entryways. Large gardens are fantastic for showcasing this playful Azalea but don't get it twisted, it'll also shine brightly in small spaces as well!

Use a line of these as your front flowering privacy hedge. Its compact growing habit and mid-level sizing will draw the eyes in without obstructing the view of other flower beds you have closer to the house. Foundation plantings aren't complete without one or two Gibraltar throughout. Hide your utilities behind one of these deciduous Azaleas.

If you're out of garden realty altogether, you can plant in containers and take this show on the road, or rather onto the patio. They'd also bring their own flair to front entrances and give quite the first impression to visitors. The neighbors will all be asking you what the secret is to your colorful garden specimen. Don't worry, we'll keep your secret!

Does your property back into a wooded area? Use the high shade from mature trees as shade for this Azalea in your woodland gardens. It'll thank you on those hot summer days! The uses don't stop outside either. Cut a couple of branches off each spring and bring them indoors to spice up your bouquets. Nothing livens up a room like a vase full of fresh-cut flowers!

Those who have small cottage gardens need not worry. While not the smallest flowering shrub on the market, its flower power more than makes up for the space it takes! Plant in place of two other flowering shrubs and you'll be rewarded ten times over in orange blossoms each spring!

• Blazing Orange Blooms are Frilly &Trumpets
• Sweet, Light Fragrance
• Glossy Mid Green Foliage
• Perfect for Cut Flowers & Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds
• Gorgeous Foundation Plant, Flowering Hedges & Stunning in Containers

#ProPlantTips For Care

Deciduous Rhododendrons and Azaleas don't ask for much fuss. As long as you follow a few simple instructions you'll have a happy and healthy shrub for years to come. The most important part of plant care is picking the right spot to put it. Find somewhere in either full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. They love hanging out in rich, moist, soil as long as it's not consistently soggy. No one likes wet feet!

Amend the soil with a top dressing of pine needle, peat moss, and perlite pellets, and use about a 3-4 inch layer of mulch for insulation and moisture retention. "Mound up" by planting them in a shallower hole than usual. Leave several inches of root ball showing above ground. Then, cover with a thick layer of pine mulch (avoid touching the mulch to the stem). Keep these evenly moist and pull weeds as they appear. It's best to prune only right after the flowers are done so the new growth that develops after flowering will make flower buds for next spring.

• Full Sun to Part Shade
• Moist, Well-Drained Soil
• Prefers Acidic Soil
• Prune Only Immediately After Flowering
• Low Maintenance in Well-Drained Soil
• Easy to Maintain

Add this award-winning azalea to your landscape soon or you'll risk missing out. Here at Nature Hills, we love winners! That might be why we have such an affinity for this Azalea. Let Gibraltar Azalea light a fire in your heart this coming spring. Order yours soon, Nature Hills Nursery's expertly grown shrubs won't stay in stock for long!