Carnival Time Azalea

Carnival Time Azalea (Rhododendron indicum 'Carnival Time') is the indica azalea for gardeners who want the flower display to do the work. Blooms open pink and white together, so a single plant reads as two colours at once. It grows to roughly 1.5m tall and 1.5m wide, which is large enough to hold a boundary bed and small enough to keep in a courtyard.

Why you'll love it

• Two colours on one shrub. Pink and white markings vary across the plant, giving the display more movement than a single toned azalea.
• A useful hedging size. At about 1.5m by 1.5m it screens a low fence line or divides a garden without blocking light.
• Built for humid summers. Humidity tolerant and at ease in subtropical gardens, where many flowering shrubs mark and spot.
• Shade is an advantage. It flowers well in dappled light, so it earns its place under established trees and on southern walls.
• Bee and butterfly friendly. The wide open blooms are easy for pollinators to reach and are worked steadily through the flush.

Where it works best

Flowering hedges and screens. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a hedge that closes at about 1.5m. Wider spacing at 1.2m suits an informal row where you want each shrub to keep its own outline.

Pots and mass planting. A 400mm or larger pot holds it near 1.2m on a shaded patio. In garden beds, mass it at 1m spacing under trees for a continuous understorey.

Growing Carnival Time Azalea in Australia

Position and climate. Morning sun with afternoon shade suits it best; full afternoon sun scorches the flowers. It grows in subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, but tolerates light frost only, so cold tableland and inland districts need a sheltered position and protection for the first two winters.

Soil. Acidic, free draining and generous with organic matter. Dig compost through the bed, keep lime and concrete run off away from the roots, and mulch 75mm deep.

Water and feed. Azalea roots run shallow and dry out fast. Deep soak twice weekly through summer, and feed with an azalea and camellia fertiliser after flowering and again in late summer.

Pruning. Trim within a month of the last flowers dropping. Buds for the next season form on new growth over summer, so a late trim costs you the display.

What to expect when it arrives

This azalea comes as tube stock, in 140mm pots sold in packs of ten, and in 200mm pots sold in packs of six. Tubes are young plants and the sensible choice for a long hedge, taking two to three seasons to close. The 200mm plants are branched and already carry flower buds in season.

Some leaf drop after transit is normal and not a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to grow and care for azaleas
• Browse every azalea we grow
• Shiraz Azalea for deep wine red flowers on a smaller shrub
• Other shrubs for partial shade

Common questions

Is it toxic to pets?

Yes. Azaleas contain grayanotoxins and are toxic to cats, dogs and horses if eaten, so this is not a plant for a garden where animals graze on shrubs.

How far apart do I plant it for a hedge?

One metre apart in a single row. That spacing closes into a solid hedge at about 1.5m without the shaded, twiggy interior that tighter planting causes.

Why do the flowers brown at the edges?

Usually too much direct afternoon sun, or petals staying wet overnight in humid weather. Move potted plants into morning sun and water at the base rather than over the canopy.