Girard's Crimson Azalea

Rhododendron x 'Girard's Crimson'

Nature Hills Nursery

Repeat Bloomer: Enjoy Multiple Flushes of Fruit-Punch Red Flowers Beyond Spring
Thrives in Zones 5-8
Showy Red Blooms From Early Spring to Late Spring
Top Pick for Border or Small groups
Pollinator-Friendly - Attracts Hummingbirds

$33⁸⁶

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Plant Size

#1 Container #3 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Provide four to six hours of morning sun with filtered afternoon shade to protect the foliage. While it can tolerate more sun in cooler climates, too much direct heat can scorch the leaves and cause the crimson color to fade quickly.
Soil: These plants thrive in acidic, well drained soil that is rich in organic matter. If you are dealing with heavy clay, mix in some compost and plant it in a slightly raised mound to prevent the roots from sitting in soggy conditions.

Watering Requirements

Keep the soil consistently moist like a wrung out sponge during the first two growing seasons to help the root system expand. Mature plants can handle short dry periods, but inconsistent moisture often leads to scorched leaf edges and a significant reduction in next year's flower production.

Pruning Tips

Because this variety blooms on old wood, you should only prune it immediately after the flowers finish fading in late spring. Think of this as a post bloom haircut to manage the size before the plant starts the process of developing its flower buds for the following year.

Fertilizer Needs

Feed your azalea in early spring using a fertilizer specifically labeled for acid loving plants. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers in late summer because they encourage tender new growth that does not have enough time to harden off before the winter frost arrives.

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	Attracts pollinators, Cold hardy, Evergreen, Flowering
Hardiness Zone	6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Sunlight	Full sun, 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	Red
Foliage Color	Green
Pet Safety	Toxic to pets
Suitable Space	Indoors, Outdoors
Plant Name	Azalea
Botanical Name	Rhododendron x 'Girard's Crimson'
Species	x
Cultivar	Girard
Class	Ericales, Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Glossy greens with bright rosy reds! Welcome spring with a burst of juicy, fruit-punch-colored blooms with the Girard's Crimson Azalea (Rhododendron x 'Girard's Crimson') as it fills the mid-spring void with an explosion of blooms! Darker red spots, speckles, and blotches decorate each petal and add depth to the showy blooms and act like bullseyes for pollinators and Hummingbirds!

What's more, Girard's isn't content with just one flush of rosy-red flowers! After the mid-spring blooms, which just smother this plant, Girard's Azalea has a trick up their sleeves - surprise smaller flushes of blooms return periodically throughout the year!

Lush broad-leaved evergreen leaves are smooth and glossy while the dark-green color provides year-round color, even in the dreary months of winter! Girard's Crimson Azalea's lovely green hues are the perfect backdrop for its vibrant flowers! Making them really stand out!

Fall brings not just more flowers, but Girard's isn't done with their magic show yet either! Just as other plants are done for the year and ready to sleep for the winter, Girard's revs up for autumn with reddish and coppery fall color that tinges the glossy foliage through the colder parts of the year! This hardy Azalea is cold and heat-tolerant throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 8!

Planting and Application:

As always, this unexpected splash of color has a massive impact when a reblooming Girard's Crimson is planted in wide drifts or bold blocks of fruit punch-red! Girard's Crimson Azalea is sure to turn heads anywhere it is planted in the landscape! The bright colors and steady evergreen presence even make Girard's Crimson Azalea a stand-out specimen plant! Bursting at the seams with exciting energy!

Fill those bland, blasé areas with deep rose-red flowers and brilliant foliage year-round! Imagine Girard's planted with the sunny faces of your spring tulips and daffodils or adding that punch of color throughout your summer-blooming perennial garden while it still sleeps and dreams of warmer summer days! The spring ephemerals will appreciate the foliage for shade and cover once the summer's heat and sun kick in!

Pollinators too will flock to this welcome food source each spring, and throughout the year to grace your gardens with their whimsical presence. The repeat blooms keep the bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds migrating to your landscape over and over again! These are must-haves for the pollinator border, and the woodland garden where all will frolic in the dappled shade!

Loving the part shade to dappled sun locations, Girard's Crimson Azalea provides color to the shadowy areas in your landscape and enhances those problematic areas that are so difficult to plant in. Perfect in the shady front landscapes as foundation plantings, Girard's is absolutely inviting along shady walkways, and adds a vibrant pop of red and evergreen brilliance to Rock Gardens and mixed-shrub plantings, too.

Growing just 2-4 feet in height and 3-4 feet wide, Girard's Crimson Azalea is a compact and low-growing shrub, that can be trained even smaller. Perfect in containers and planters on porches and patios! Able to lend its brilliant hues to beds and borders and to hide the 'legs' of older, larger shrubs and evergreens as a facer plant and as edging. Lovely in Asian-inspired evergreen gardens and as a low, informal hedge for boosting privacy and curb appeal along your home's partly shaded foundation!

Vibrant Pinkish-Red Blooms Smother the Entire Plant
Bright Mid-Spring Flowers & Repeat Blooms All Growing Season!
Evergreen Foliage For Color Year-Round!
Lower, Compact Growth
Red and Coppery Fall Color
Bee, Butterfly & Hummingbird Friendly!

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Thriving in part-sun and the tricky north or east-facing exposures, Girard's Crimson Azalea will brighten those shady spots with welcome color! Preferring cool, consistently moist soil, Rhododendrons and Azaleas do best in many soil types so long as they don't sit in water. While not fussy about soil type, Girard's does need slightly acidic, well-draining conditions to really show off its best colors and character. Azaleas love cool soil with consistent moisture, and do their very best with a good, heavy application of mulch over the soil to help keep their roots cool and well-insulated from the summer heat.

Remember not to plant these shallow-rooted plants too deeply. Mound them up in a hill of extra soil, leaving an inch or two of the root ball showing, but covered and protected in arborist mulch chips. Being low and compact, Girard's will need very little care and fuss from yourself! No pruning is needed, but if you do wish to shape it or control size, pruning is best done immediately after Girard's is done with its spring bloom.

Fairly resistant to browsing Deer, and unbothered by rabbits or squirrels, pollinators, however, will be frequent visitors, plus all the admirers you'll have dropping by to take in the view!

Partial Sun/Part-Shade Brilliance
Cool Moist Root Conditions
Needs Mulched, Well-Drained, Slightly Acidic Soil
Rarely Needs Pruning - But Prune Only Right After Flowering
Low-Maintenance and Low-Care

Girard's will easily fit in anywhere and brings on the color! You won't want to miss this stunning shrub in your garden next spring. Order a Girard's Crimson Azalea from Nature Hills Nursery today!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will Girard's Crimson Azalea survive in zone 5 winters?

Yes, Girard's Crimson Azalea is hardy in USDA zone 5 winters. This cold-tolerant variety thrives in zones 5-8 and maintains its evergreen foliage year-round. Plant in a sheltered location with good drainage for best winter performance.

Does Girard's Crimson Azalea grow well in partial shade or dappled sun?

Girard's Crimson Azalea thrives in partial shade to dappled sunlight, which protects its glossy evergreen foliage while encouraging those vibrant fruit-punch blooms. Morning sun with afternoon shade works particularly well in zones 5-8. Shop at Nature Hills for healthy specimens.

What type of soil does Girard's Crimson Azalea need, like acidic or well-drained?

Girard's Crimson Azalea thrives in acidic, well-draining soil with a pH between 4.5-6.0. Like all azaleas, it needs consistent moisture but cannot tolerate waterlogged conditions. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter and ensure good drainage for best results.

When is the best time to prune Girard's Crimson Azalea?

Prune Girard's Crimson Azalea immediately after the main spring bloom flush ends. Since this variety reblooms periodically throughout the year, late pruning can remove developing flower buds. Stick to light shaping rather than heavy cutting to preserve the natural form.

What fertilizer is recommended for Girard's Crimson Azalea?

Use an acid-loving plant fertilizer with a low pH formulation specifically designed for azaleas and rhododendrons. Feed in early spring before the mid-spring bloom flush and again in late summer. Look for azalea fertilizers available at naturehills.com to keep your Girard's Crimson thriving in zones 5-8.

Is Girard's Crimson Azalea deer-resistant or rabbit-proof?

Girard's Crimson Azalea offers moderate deer resistance, as most azaleas contain compounds that deer typically avoid. However, hungry deer may still browse young growth during harsh winters. Plant in protected areas or use deterrents if deer pressure is high in your zone 5-8 garden.

When does Girard's Crimson Azalea bloom, and what color are the flowers?

Girard's Crimson Azalea produces bright rosy-red blooms with darker red spots in mid-spring, followed by smaller repeat flushes throughout the year. The fruit punch-colored flowers attract hummingbirds and pollinators. Plant in partial shade with acidic, well-draining soil for best blooming performance.

Can Girard's Crimson Azalea be planted in full sun in northern states?

Girard's Crimson Azalea tolerates both cold and heat in zones 5-8, but like most azaleas prefers partial shade. In northern states, morning sun with afternoon shade works best to prevent leaf scorch. Plant in well-draining, acidic soil for optimal blooming.

How is Girard's Crimson Azalea shipped, and what size pots are available?

Girard's Crimson Azalea ships in multiple container sizes to suit different planting needs and budgets. These hardy shrubs arrive well-established and ready to plant in zones 5-8. Choose larger containers for immediate impact or smaller sizes for budget-friendly mass plantings.