Anna Kehr Indica Azalea

Anna Kehr Indica Azalea (Rhododendron indicum 'Anna Kehr') is the one to plant when you want an azalea flower that looks more like a small camellia. It settles at roughly 1.5m tall and 1.5m wide, carrying fully double deep pink blooms against dark evergreen foliage through the cooler months. Growth is slow and even, so it holds its shape near a path or fence line for years.

Why you'll love it

• Double flowers, not single. Each bloom is packed with petals and holds together far longer than the thin single forms.
• A size you can plan around. About 1.5m each way, reached slowly, so it will not swallow a border three years after planting.
• Genuinely frost hardy. Established plants take real winter cold, so it suits cool temperate gardens as readily as warm ones.
• Comfortable in humidity. It also holds up through a sticky subtropical summer, an unusual combination in one shrub.

Where it works best

Informal flowering hedge. Plant 1m apart in a single row. The plants knit together without crowding, and the finished hedge sits at about 1.5m: tall enough to define a boundary, low enough to see over.

Borders, pots and mass planting. The same 1m spacing works for a massed bed, and a single plant in a 400mm pot suits a shaded entry. Because growth is slow, the planting stays in proportion instead of becoming a maintenance job.

Growing Anna Kehr Indica Azalea in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade is the target: morning sun with protection from hot afternoon light gives the best flowers and stops the foliage bleaching. It suits warm temperate, subtropical and cool temperate gardens, but not the wet tropics or arid inland districts.

Soil. Acidic and free draining, ideally around pH 5 to 6. Work compost through the bed, and on heavy clay raise it rather than digging a hole that holds water. Keep 75mm of mulch clear of the stem.

Water and feed. The roots sit shallow, so the plant suffers quickly if the surface bakes dry. Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers. Use a fertiliser made for azaleas and camellias once flowering finishes, and avoid lime.

Pruning. Trim straight after flowering. Next season's buds form through late summer and autumn, so a late cut removes the flowers you were waiting for.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes, both sold as multiples: 140mm in a pack of 10 and 200mm in a pack of 6. These are young, well rooted plants rather than instant shrubs, which is why they suit a hedge run or massed bed needing matched plants at a sensible cost. Expect two to three seasons before the row reads as a solid line, and light flowering in the first year.

Plants travel packed upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Some leaf drop in transit is normal. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to grow and care for azaleas in Australia
• Browse the full azalea range
• More plants for partial shade
• Frost hardy shrubs for cold gardens

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. Closer planting does not speed up the join and makes watering and feeding harder. Allow two to three seasons for the row to close.

Is it safe to plant where pets have access?

No. All azaleas and rhododendrons are toxic to cats and dogs if the leaves or flowers are eaten, so this is not a plant for a yard where a dog chews at the garden.

Why are the leaves yellowing between the veins?

That is almost always soil pH rather than a lack of feeding. Azaleas cannot take up iron in alkaline soil, so correct it with an acidic fertiliser and iron chelates, and keep lime away from the root zone.