74 Gorgeous Azalea Colors to Spruce Up Your Garden

azalea
© Scott F Smith /Shutterstock.com

Written by Heather Hall

Updated: October 4, 2023

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Discover the vibrant beauty that azaleas bring to any garden. With a stunning array of azalea colors, these exquisite flowers are sure to add an enchanting touch to your outdoor space. Explore the diverse range of shades and hues available and learn how to incorporate them into your own garden oasis.

What is an Azalea?

An azalea is a beautiful flowering shrub known for its vibrant colors and sweet-smelling blossoms. It belongs to the rhododendron family and is native to many parts of Asia, Europe, and North America.

There are two types of azaleas: deciduous and evergreen. Evergreen azaleas come in different sizes, depending on their group. Deciduous azaleas, on the other hand, lose their leaves in winter. They have vibrant flowers in shades of pink, yellow, orange, red, and white that may be fragrant. Azaleas need more sun than rhododendrons but do fine in filtered light. Pruning is necessary for evergreen azaleas to prevent them from becoming leggy. Prune them after flowering to preserve the season’s blooms.

How Do You Grow Azaleas?

Azaleas are some of the most striking and vibrant flowering plants, and they are easy to grow with the right care. To achieve lush, healthy growth, azaleas should be planted in soil that is acidic and moist, with plenty of organic matter. Planting in a spot that receives morning sun and afternoon shade will also help to ensure optimal growth.

Azaleas should be watered regularly but not over-watered. During the growing season, water the soil until it is moist but not soggy. Mulching around the plant helps to keep moisture in the soil. Feed azaleas with an acidic fertilizer in the spring and summer for best results.

Azaleas tend to bloom best when pruned regularly. Prune your azaleas at least once a year after the first flush of blooms. You can trim away dead or crossing branches and shape the azalea into a pleasing shape. Avoid cutting too close to the main stem of the plant.

Azaleas also need protection from frost. Most types of azaleas are winter hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 9. If you live in a colder climate, cover your plants with a sheet or burlap when temperatures drop. This will provide insulation and help keep the roots safe.

When Do Azaleas Bloom?

Azaleas are a beloved springtime flower with brightly-colored, vibrant blooms. They typically bloom in late April or early May and can last for up to several weeks. A few varieties bloom in June, and even fewer bloom in July. Azaleas flourish in cooler climates and can be found in gardens and forests across the United States.

Colors of Azalea

Azalea colors range from white to pink to purple. The pale pastels of white and pink azaleas provide a delicate, romantic atmosphere to any garden. Meanwhile, the more vibrant shades of purple or blue-violet bring a sense of drama and mystery. Azaleas can also be found in shades of yellow and orange, adding a cheerful, warm touch to any outdoor space. Whatever the color, azaleas are sure to bring beauty and life to any garden.

12 Orange Azaleas

azalea

When it comes to azalea colors, orange blooms are a joy to behold.

©Ole Schoener/Shutterstock.com

Several cultivars of azaleas are orange. They range from light orange and orange-red to deep coral orange. Here are twelve of our favorite cultivars.

NumberAzalea CultiverShade of OrangeTypeBloom Time
1Ama GasaDeep coral orangeEvergreenJune
2Beni KirishimaDouble orange redEvergreenMay
3Girard’s Hot ShotOrange-redEvergreenApril
4Greenwood OrangeTrue OrangeEvergreenOrange-red
5Maria DerbySunset OrangeEvergreenApril-May
6Arneson GemGolden orangeDeciduousApril-May
7Dragon FireBright orangeDeciduousMay
8GibraltarVivid, nearly neon orangeDeciduousApril-May
9Mandarin LightsSaffron Orange w/ruffles & scentDeciduousMay-June
10Mary PoppinsCarrot OrangeDeciduousMay
11KlondykeTangerine orange and bronzeDeciduousApril-May
12Tangerine DelightPumpkin orange, strongly scentedDeciduousApril-May

Azalea Colors — 25 Shades of Pink

Azalea flowering plant blooming Wilmington North Carolina. Azalea festival.

Azaleas come in a dizzying array of different shades of pink.

©PatGallery/Shutterstock.com

Pink azaleas of every shade exist now. You can find double pinks, purple pinks, bright pink, and the lightest of pinks. Here are some beautiful cultivars that we think you will love as much as we do!

NumberAzalea CultivarShade of PinkTypeBloom Time
1Betty Ann VossPink w/ purple tinge. Double flowersEvergreenJune-July
2Carline GablePure pinkEvergreenApril
3GaietyRose pinkEvergreenMay
4Gerard’s JeremiahSoft PinkEvergreenApril-May
5GlamourDusty rose pinkEvergreenMay
6Gumpo PinkMedium pinkEvergreenJune
7KaempoHot, neon pinkEvergreenMay-June
8Macrantha PinkBright pinkEvergreenMay
9Nancy of Robin HillMedium pink w/magenta spotsEvergreenApril
10RosebudDouble pinkEvergreenMay
11Satsuki AmoDark pink, nearly redEvergreenMay
12TraditionLightest pinkEvergreenApril
13Twenty GrandTrue pink doubleEvergreenApril
14A. schlippenbachiiPale pinkDeciduousApril
15Candy LightsLight pink with yellow stripesDeciduousApril-May
16Pink-a-BooBlush pinkDeciduousMay
17Pink-n-SweetLavender pinkDeciduousMay
18Rosy LightsMagenta with rose tingesDeciduousMay-June
19Tri-LightsPink w/white edges and yellow spotsDeciduousApril-May
20Western LightsBlush, clear pinkDeciduousMay-June
21Irene KosterPink petals with yellow splotchesDeciduousMay-June
22Mount St. HelensPink petals with yellow streaksDeciduousMay-June
23SnowbirdWhitish pink and pure white mixedDeciduousApril
24Weston’s LollipopPink with flares of yellow. Highly scentedDeciduousJune
25Weston’s ParadePink with a deep orange center. ScentedDeciduousJuly

Azalea Colors — 9 Shades of White

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Western azaleas in white and yellow bloom in the early spring.

©Alex Manders/Shutterstock.com

There is something so refreshing about the first blush of pure white azaleas in the early spring. Azaleas grow in pure white, double white, and extremely fragrant ruffly white. Here is a list of our favorite white azaleas.

NumberAzalea CultivarShade of WhiteTypeBloom Time
1Cloud NinePure double whiteEvergreenMay
2EverestPure whiteEvergreenMay
3GlacierWhite w/blueish tingeEvergreenMay
4Gumpo WhiteLace whiteEvergreenJune
5Pleasant WhiteSalt white grows in clustersEvergreenApril-May
6TreasureCoconut whiteEvergreenMay
7O. occidentaleWhite w/pink or yellow blotchesDeciduousMay
8Fragrant StarBright, bone white. Highly scentedDeciduousMay-June
9White LightsWhite with a yellow tinge. FragrantDeciduousMay-June

Azalea Colors — 18 Shades of Red

Deep red azalea bonsai

Deep red azaleas look awesome when trimmed in bonsai fashion.

©Alexandra Tyukavina/Shutterstock.com

Red azaleas have a wide range of shades. We love purplish red, pure blood red, bright crayon red, pink-tinged red, variegated red, and fire red. Here is a list of red-colored azaleas.

NumberAzalea CultivarShade of RedTypeBloom Time
1Girard’s CrimsonReddish purple w/dark red blotchesEvergreenMay
2Hershey’s RedCherry redEvergreenMay
3HexeCarmine RedEvergreenMay
4Hino CrimsonCrimson RedEvergreenApril
5Mother’s DayBright RedEvergreenApril
6Sherwood OrchidViolet RedEvergreenMay
7Silver SwordVariegated RedEvergreenMay
8StewartsonianBlood RedEvergreenMay
9Tara RoseRuby RedEvergreenMay
10Vuyk’s Rosy RedRosy RedEvergreenApril-May
11Vuyk’s ScarletScarlet RedEvergreenMay
12Ward’s RubyTrue RedEvergreenApril
13FireballFire RedDeciduousMay-June
14King’s RedBright, nearly neon redDeciduousMay-June
15MollalaBrick RedDeciduousMay-June
16Red DemonVermillion RedDeciduousApril-May
17Red SunsetGarnet Red, leaves are very bright greenDeciduousMay
18Wallowa RedDeep mahogany redDeciduousMay-June

4 Purple Azaleas

Azalea

New cultivars of purple azaleas are being grown every year.

©Humitosi18/iStock via Getty Images

Purple is such a fun color for any flower. In the Azalea kingdom, you can grow pure, true purple, orchid purple, violet purple, deep lilac, and lavender-colored flowers.

NumberAzalea CultivarShade of PurpleTypeBloom Time
1HerbertTrue purpleEvergreenApril
2Purple SplendorIris PurpleEvergreenMay
3Lilac LightsDeep LilacDeciduousApril-May
4Orchid LightsOrchid PurpleDeciduousMay

6 Yellow Azaleas

Yellow Azalea, Rhododendron luteum. Flowering plant with large yellow flowers. Yellow flowers close-up against a dark background.

A few of the new azalea cultivars in yellow smell deliciously sweet.

©EllyMiller/iStock via Getty Images

The bright yellow flowers of Azaleas are a joy to watch as they emerge in the spring. There are azalea cultivars in blotchy yellow, lemon yellow, pale yellow, bright yellow, and multi-colored yellow. Here is a list of the best yellow Azaleas!

NumberAzalea CultivarShade of YellowTypeBloom Time
1Arneson Golden SolitareLemon yellow with multi-colored splotchesDeciduousApril-May
2Cannon’s DoublePale yellow w/pink streaksDeciduousMay-June
3Golden LightsTrue Yellow. FragrantDeciduousApril-May
4Lemon LightsSunshine YellowDeciduousMay-June
5Northern Hi-LightsYellow with white mixedDeciduousApril-May
6Weston’s Lemon DropButter Yellow. Slightly scented.DeciduousMay-June


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About the Author

Heather Hall is a writer at A-Z Animals, where her primary focus is on plants and animals. Heather has been writing and editing since 2012 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, Heather enjoys hiking, gardening, and trail running through the mountains with her dogs.

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