Shiraz Indica Azalea

Shiraz Indica Azalea (Rhododendron indicum 'Shiraz', often listed as Azalea indica) brings deep wine red colour to shaded beds without outgrowing them. It settles at about 1.2m tall and 1.2m wide, small enough to sit under a window and dense enough to work as a low hedge. The main flush comes through late winter and spring, and small glossy leaves carry the rest of the year.

Why you'll love it

• Wine red, not orange red. Deep and slightly velvety, it reads as rich against dark foliage rather than loud.
• It stays where you put it. At roughly 1.2m by 1.2m you are shaping it once a year, not fighting it back.
• Shade is an advantage. Filtered light or morning sun suits it, so it covers ground where most flowering shrubs sulk.
• Bees and butterflies work it. The open trumpet flowers are easy to feed from, and a mass planting stays busy through the flush.

Where it works best

Low hedging and borders. Plant 80cm apart for a dense hedge that finishes around chest height. The same spacing suits a path edge or a bed front.

Mass planting under established trees. Shallow roots handle competition from a mature canopy better than most shrubs, so a drift lifts dim ground.

Pots and containers. A 400mm pot of acidic mix suits a shaded patio, though container plants dry out fast in summer.

Growing Shiraz Indica Azalea in Australia

Position and climate. Dappled shade, or morning sun with afternoon protection. Subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens all suit it, and humidity is no problem, but it takes light frost only: shelter young plants through their first two winters in cold inland and tableland districts.

Soil. Acidic and free draining, with compost or aged pine bark through the backfill. Mulch 50mm deep and never dig around the base: the feeder roots sit in the top few centimetres.

Water and feed. Steady moisture matters more than volume. It carries no drought reserve and wilts once the surface dries, so a deep soak twice a week in summer beats a daily sprinkle. Feed an azalea and camellia fertiliser straight after flowering.

Pruning. Trim within a month of the last flowers finishing. Next season's buds set over summer, so a late cut removes the display you were waiting for.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes: 140mm in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six, and single 300mm plants. The packs are the sensible buy for a hedge or mass planting. A single 300mm plant is already bushy and flowers in its first season.

Some leaf drop after transit is normal and not a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the full azalea care guide for feeding, pruning and pests.
• Compare varieties in the azalea collection.
• How to lower soil pH if your beds run alkaline.
• Browse more plants for partial shade.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Space plants 80cm apart in a single row. Closer than that and the shallow roots compete, which shows as thin growth rather than a denser hedge.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Every azalea is toxic to cats, dogs and horses if leaves or flowers are eaten, and small amounts cause vomiting and heart problems. Choose something else if your pet chews foliage.

Why are the leaves yellowing between the veins?

That is usually soil pH, not hunger. Azaleas cannot take up iron in alkaline soil, so acidify the bed and use a fertiliser made for azaleas and camellias.

Will it flower in full sun?

It will, but the leaves scorch and the display is shorter in hot gardens. Morning sun with midday shade gives the flowering without the burn.