Create Your Garden

Beautiful Azaleas and Rhododendrons for New England

Deciduous Azaleas, Evergreen Azaleas, Lepidote Rhododendrons, Elepidote Rhododendrons

North East Azaleas, North East Azaleas Rhododendrons, North East Azaleas Deciduous Azaleas, North East Azaleas Evergreen Azaleas, New England Azaleas, New England Rhododendrons

Azaleas and Rhododendrons, with their magnificent flowers, are some of the best-loved sights of spring. Producing a blaze of color from early spring through the summer and even into the fall, Azaleas and Rhododendrons are popular ornamental shrubs for gardens of all sizes. Evergreen or deciduous, they come in all shapes and sizes, from small, ground-hugging shrubs to large, tree-like specimens. Their flowers range from the tiny and delicate blossoms of floriferous dwarf shrubs to the huge clusters or ‘trusses’ of tall growing hybrids and species. Some are fragrant, and others feature wonderful foliage adding glorious fall color to the landscape. All are fascinating.

Azaleas and Rhododendrons are members of the genus Rhododendron, one of the largest genera in the plant world, which includes over 900 species and over 20,000 named hybrids of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Attractive landscape plants in cool and moist climates, many varieties have been struggling in New England as a result of floods, blizzards, bare-ground winters, northeasters, heat waves, cold snaps, hurricanes, and even the odd tornado.

The following is a list of Azaleas and Rhododendrons recognized as proven performers in New England. Most have received the Rhododendron of the Year Award from the American Rhododendron Society. To be selected for such an award, a plant must have excellent foliage and flowers, have an attractive plant habit, be pest and disease-resistant, and be cold-hardy for the region.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 7
Heat Zones 1 - 3
Plant Type Shrubs
Genus Rhododendron
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early), Fall, Winter
Height
Spread
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Patio And Containers, Banks And Slopes, Hedges And Screens, Beds And Borders, Small Gardens
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden

Beautiful Azaleas and Rhododendrons for New England

Rhododendron ‘April Rose’
Rhododendron ‘Dora Amateis’
Rhododendron ‘Gibraltar’
Rhododendron ‘Ginny Gee’
Rhododendron ‘Golden Lights’
Rhododendron ‘Hino Crimson’
Rhododendron ‘Homebush’
Rhododendron ‘Ken Janeck’
Rhododendron ‘Mary Fleming’
Rhododendron ‘My Mary’
Rhododendron ‘Narcissiflorum’
Rhododendron ‘Nestucca’
Rhododendron ‘Nova Zembla’
Rhododendron ‘Olga Mezitt’
Rhododendron ‘Percy-Wiseman’
Rhododendron ‘Rosebud’
Rhododendron ‘Roseum Elegans’
Rhododendron ‘Scintillation’
Rhododendron ‘Weston’s Innocence’
Rhododendron ‘Windbeam’
Rhododendron atlanticum (Coastal Azalea)
Rhododendron calendulaceum (Flame Azalea)
Rhododendron mucronulatum ‘Cornell Pink’
Rhododendron prunifolium (Plumleaf Azalea)
Rhododendron schlippenbachii (Royal Azalea)
Rhododendron vaseyi (Pink-Shell Azalea)
Rhododendron viscosum (Swamp Azalea)

Remember that the ability to grow Azaleas and Rhododendrons successfully depends also on the site selection and soil preparation.

  • Their soil should be acidic, organic, moist, fertile, and well-drained.
  • Choose a site with dappled shade in sheltered conditions. Avoid deep shade beneath other trees. Most Rhododendrons will tolerate a more open site if sheltered from cold, dry winds. Dwarf alpine species will tolerate full sun provided the soil is kept evenly moist.
  • Many Azaleas and Rhododendrons are fully cold hardy, however, a few of them have frost-resistant flowers. Any flowers blooming before the last spring frost are susceptible to damage. Since the frost damage is generally caused when the early morning sun strikes the plants’ frozen tissues, you should site your Azalea or Rhododendron where both leaves and flowers are protected from the early morning sun, and where they will adapt slowly to the increasing temperatures of the day. Since frost flows downward, avoid planting them in low-lying spots known to be frost pockets.
  • When placing plants, always choose locations that mitigate extreme temperature changes, especially in spring and fall, and provide protection from drying summer or winter winds. Azaleas and Rhododendrons may be harmed in winter by frozen grounds and drying winds or bright sun which will cause severe foliage desiccation. Protect their shallow roots with a mulch of oak leaves or pine needles and their foliage with woven material such as burlap screens. This will help in preventing bark-split (when the sap running in the stem is frozen and burst the bark).

Discover These Helpful Guides for Further Reading

Beautiful Azaleas and Rhododendrons for Rock Gardens
Great Ferns as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Rhododendron and Azalea: How To Grow And Care with Success
Great Hostas as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Great Bulbs and Perennials as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Best Shrubs as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Best Flowering Crabapples for New England
Great Clematis for New England
Best Perennials for Gardeners in New England
Best David Austin Roses for Gardeners in New England
Beautiful Hydrangeas for New England
Best Grasses and Foliage Plants for Gardeners in New England
Compare All Rhododendron
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Rhododendron
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
New England
Guides with
Rhododendron
Guides with
New England
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 7
Heat Zones 1 - 3
Plant Type Shrubs
Genus Rhododendron
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early), Fall, Winter
Height
Spread
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Rabbit
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Patio And Containers, Banks And Slopes, Hedges And Screens, Beds And Borders, Small Gardens
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden
Compare All Rhododendron
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Rhododendron
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
New England
Guides with
Rhododendron
Guides with
New England

Related Items

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone