Belgian Indian & Rutherford Hybrids

The Belgian hybrids are very popular garden and container plants in California and the Deep South.

Carla Hybrid

The Carla (North Carolina-Louisiana) Hybrids originated at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., with the goals of better resistance to root rot diseases, drought and cold. These hybrids, whose parentage includes Kurume, Kaempferi, Belgian Indian and Satsuki hybrids, are medium to large evergreen shrubs with a vigorous growth habit. Flowers are borne in mid spring in showy trusses of up to four blooms

Glen Dale Hybrids

The Glen Dale azaleas are the results of the largest breeding program in the United States, which was instituted by B. Y. Morrison, former director of the United States National Arboretum. The objective was to produce large-flowered azaleas hardy in the Washington, D.C. area. The resulting hybrids vary from early to late flowering and have a wide range of colors. Over 450 cultivars from this program were named.  These varieties are very popular in the East and are grown in other parts of the country as well. The best sources for many of the varieties are nurseries specializing in azaleas.  All varieties are hardy to – 10 degrees.

Kurume Hybrids

Kurume azaleas are among the most popular of the hybrid groups of azaleas and have been grown in Japan for more than 300 years.  Kurume are hardier than Southern Indians.  They are often called dwarfs but will grow into dense shapely plants, 5 feet or more in height.  The small flowers are borne in profusion in early spring and range in color from white to pink, orange, red and purple.  Hardy from –5 degrees to – 10 degrees.

Linwood Hybrids

Dr. Charles Fischer started to develop hardy greenhouse forcing azaleas in Linwood, New Jersey, in 1950.  Soon after, Albert Reid took over the project to develop cold hardy landscape azaleas.  The parents include Kurume and Kaempferi hybrids.  More than 25 have been introduced, many of which are named for the Garden State.  Most are hardy to - 10 degrees to - 15 degrees and have a low to medium growth habit.

Robin Hill Hybrids

Robert Gartrell developed these hardy, late-blooming azaleas, which have many characteristics of the Satsuki hybrids.  In general, however, the plants are hardier than the Satsuki and Kurume azaleas.  The plants average 3 to 5 feet in height, and the growth rate varies from slow to medium.  Flowers range from single, to hose-in-hose, to full double, and may be shades of white, pink, purple, and red.  Over 30 cultivars have been named.  They are late bloomers.

Satsuki Hybrids

Satsuki azaleas are from Japan, though recent hybrids have been developed in the United States.  They are very popular as bonsai plants and are also excellent landscape plants noted for their late flowers.  The Satsuki azaleas sport freely, and are variable in flower color and plant habit.  Some have a spreading, low-growing habit, others attain medium height in 10 to 15 years.  The plants are mostly rounded in shape with a twiggy, compact growth, and a few are pendulous.  They are hardy from 0 degrees to  - 5 degrees.  Some of the Satsukis have variegated foliage.  Due to the late and often large flowers the plants need protection from the afternoon sun.  Over 600 Satsukis are grown in the United States.

Shammarello Hybrids

Tony Shammarello introduced evergreen azaleas noted for both cold hardiness and good growth habit.  all are suitable for general landscape use and are hardy to -15 degrees.

Southern Indian or Indica Hybrids

Southern Indian hybrids (sometimes known as Southern Indicas) are generally large plants with large flowers, and are very common in the Deep South.  They are more tolerant of hot sun than the Belgian Indians.  Most suffer considerable damage at temperatures below 10 degrees.

Wild (or Native) Azaleas of Texas

There are several species of wild, or native, azaleas that grow in Texas.  These low, shrubby plants are often referred to as honeysuckle by the locals.