Exquisite Indica Azalea

Exquisite Indica Azalea (Rhododendron indicum 'Exquisite', still sold across the trade as Azalea indica) turns a shaded bed into the brightest part of the garden each spring. It grows to about 1.5m tall and 1.5m wide, stays evergreen the rest of the year, and covers itself in soft pink and white blooms so densely that the foliage almost disappears. Indica azaleas are the group bred for warmer Australian conditions, so this one handles humidity that defeats cool climate rhododendrons.

Why you'll love it

• A solid sheet of flower. Blooms open across the whole plant at once in late winter and spring, in soft pink marked with white.
• Evergreen the rest of the year. Small dark leaves hold on through summer and winter, so a border still reads as a planting once the flowers finish.
• Built for shade. Filtered light or morning sun gives the best display, useful under established trees and along southern walls.
• Rounded and predictable. It holds a neat dome without constant shaping, so a mass planting stays even.

Where it works best

Mass planting and borders. Plant 80cm apart for a massed display. At that spacing the domes knit into a continuous band of colour within two or three seasons.

Informal hedging. The same 80cm spacing gives a soft flowering hedge around 1.2m to 1.5m high. It will not clip to a crisp formal face, so treat it as a billowing edge rather than a wall.

Pots and feature planting. A 400mm pot suits a single plant, and a pair either side of a shaded entry works well. Container plants need an acidic mix.

Growing azaleas in Australia

Position and climate. Filtered shade, or morning sun with afternoon protection, across subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so in hard frosting inland and tableland districts give young plants a sheltered spot for their first two winters. Hot afternoon sun scorches the leaves.

Soil. Acidic, free draining and high in organic matter. Work aged pine bark through the bed, and skip lime and mushroom compost entirely. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems, because the roots sit in the top 200mm of soil.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist, especially through the first two summers and while buds form in late summer. Feed a camellia and azalea fertiliser after flowering and again in early autumn.

Pruning. Trim immediately after flowering, taking up to a third off to keep the plant dense. Leave it later than about midsummer and you cut off next season's buds.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: tube stock, 140mm in packs of ten and 200mm in packs of six. Tubes are young and take two to three seasons to display. Ten 140mm plants at 80cm spacing run a little over 7m of edging, and six 200mm plants cover about 4m.

If yours arrives in bud, expect some bud drop as it adjusts, which is normal rather than a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect new growth within four to six weeks in the warmer months. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare the full azalea collection
• Companions for partial shade
• Camellias, which want the same acidic soil
• Planting and care basics for new garden plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant them?

Eighty centimetres apart for a massed display or an informal low hedge. For individual specimens in a mixed bed, stretch that to 1.2m so each plant shows its full rounded shape.

Are azaleas safe for cats and dogs?

No. All parts of an azalea are toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and even a small amount of chewed leaf can cause vomiting and worse. If you have an animal that grazes on plants, choose a camellia instead.

Why are the leaves yellow with green veins?

That is iron deficiency from soil that is too alkaline. Apply iron chelates for the quick fix, then correct the bed with aged pine bark and an acidifying fertiliser so it does not return.