Dreamtime Azalea

Dreamtime Azalea (Rhododendron indicum 'Dreamtime', still sold as Azalea indica) is the compact evergreen shrub for a small bed that needs a block of pink. It settles at about 1m tall and 1m wide, covered in soft pink blooms from late winter into spring. As an indica type it takes humidity far better than cool climate azaleas, holding up in warm coastal gardens where others go blotchy.

Why you'll love it

• A full month of pink. Dense enough to hide the foliage, and it arrives from late winter when little else is flowering.
• It stays small without work. Roughly 1m by 1m is its natural size, so it fits under a window or in a narrow bed.
• Evergreen, so the bed never looks empty. Small dark leaves hold through winter, giving structure between flowering seasons.
• Handles humidity. Indica azaleas were bred for warm, humid conditions, a safer bet in Brisbane or Sydney than cool climate types.

Where it works best

Mass planting and borders. Plant 70cm apart for a low, continuous mass, close enough that the plants meet within two seasons and read as one drift of colour.

Pots and containers. A 400mm pot or larger holds a single plant for years. Use an azalea and camellia mix for the acidity, and water often, because potted azaleas dry out fast.

Small gardens and feature planting. A matched pair either side of a step or entry gives a formal look at courtyard scale without outgrowing the spot.

Growing Dreamtime Azalea in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade or filtered morning sun; hot afternoon sun bleaches the flowers and stresses the shallow roots. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens and takes light frost only, so where frosts are hard plant it under an eave or a taller canopy.

Soil. Acidic, free draining and rich in organic matter: the make or break factor. Work compost and aged pine bark through the bed, keep the pH between 5 and 6, and plant slightly high, because the roots sit near the surface and rot in wet ground.

Water and feed. The fine, shallow roots dry out faster than the plant's size suggests. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers and mulch 50mm deep, kept clear of the stem. Feed an azalea and camellia fertiliser after flowering and again in late summer.

Pruning. Trim lightly straight after flowering, before next season's buds set, or you cut off the flowers. It shoots from old wood, so a leggy plant takes a hard cut in early spring.

What to expect when it arrives

Three sizes are grown. Tube stock is a young single plant, the value choice for a long border. The 200mm pack of six is the usual middle ground: bushy plants 25cm to 30cm tall that flower in their first or second season. The 140mm pack of ten is on backorder, so check the lead time here.

Azaleas travel well but hate drying out in transit, so unbox and water on arrival. Some bud drop after a long trip is normal. 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

• Compare the full azalea range
• Ideas for low growing border plants
• More plants for partial shade
• Plants that do well in pots

Common questions

Are azaleas safe for cats and dogs?

No. All azaleas are toxic to cats and dogs, and eating even a small quantity of leaf can cause serious illness. Keep clippings picked up and plant them out of reach of a chewing pet.

Why are the leaves turning yellow?

Yellow leaves with green veins mean the soil is too alkaline for the plant to take up iron. Apply iron chelates, mulch with aged pine bark, and switch to an azalea and camellia fertiliser to bring the pH down.

When should I prune it?

Straight after flowering in spring. Next season's buds set on the growth that follows, so summer or autumn pruning removes the flowers.