Azaleas have completely won me over with their vibrant blooms and effortless beauty. If you’ve been looking to add a splash of color to your garden, these 16 varieties are a perfect place to start.
From the classic pinks to the more unique whites and reds, there’s a perfect azalea for every corner of your garden. And trust me, once you get to know these, you’ll find yourself searching for even more varieties to try.
Let’s bring some stunning color and charm to your backyard with these showstoppers!
1. Flame Azalea
Native to the Appalachian Mountains, this wild beauty produces fiery orange-red blooms that seem to light up woodland gardens. The trumpet-shaped flowers appear in late spring, creating a spectacular display against its bright green foliage.
Flame azaleas can reach heights of 8-10 feet in their natural habitat, making them perfect statement plants. They prefer partial shade and acidic, well-draining soil rich in organic matter.
2. Stewartstonian Azalea
Brilliant crimson-red flowers make this compact evergreen azalea a show-stopper in spring gardens. During fall and winter, the glossy foliage transforms into a rich burgundy color, providing year-round interest when other plants have gone dormant.
Growing just 4-5 feet tall and wide, Stewartstonian fits perfectly in smaller landscapes. Hardy down to -20°F, this reliable performer thrives in partial shade and makes an excellent foundation planting.
3. Delaware Valley White
Pure white blossoms cover this popular azalea variety each spring, creating a snow-like effect in the landscape. The clean, crisp flowers stand out beautifully against the plant’s dark green foliage, making it a perfect accent for shady garden corners.
Reaching just 3-4 feet at maturity, this compact evergreen works wonderfully in foundation plantings or borders. Delaware Valley White tolerates colder temperatures better than many azaleas, surviving winters down to -15°F.
4. Autumn Royalty
Unlike typical azaleas that bloom only in spring, this remarkable rebloomer puts on a magnificent show twice yearly. The rich purple flowers first appear in April-May, then return for an encore performance in September-October, extending your garden’s color season.
As part of the Encore series, Autumn Royalty grows 4-5 feet tall with excellent disease resistance. The evergreen foliage maintains good color year-round, making this azalea a true garden workhorse.
5. Pink Ruffle
Frilly, double-petaled blooms in soft pink create a romantic, cottage garden feel with this charming azalea variety. The ruffled flowers appear in dense clusters during mid-spring, completely covering the compact shrub in candy-floss color.
Growing to about 3-4 feet tall and wide, Pink Ruffle makes an excellent choice for containers or small gardens. This evergreen variety maintains its attractive foliage year-round and performs best in filtered sunlight.
6. Girard’s Rose
Vibrant hot pink blooms with subtle darker speckles make this azalea truly eye-catching in spring landscapes. The semi-double flowers appear in profusion, creating a solid mass of color against the glossy, dark green leaves.
Cold-hardy down to -20°F, Girard’s Rose grows 2-3 feet tall and slightly wider, making it perfect for foundation plantings. This compact evergreen maintains good winter color and holds up well to challenging conditions once established.
7. Sweet Azalea
Highly fragrant white flowers distinguish this native deciduous azalea from its more common cousins. The tubular blossoms emit a sweet, clove-like scent that perfumes the entire garden, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds in late spring.
Growing 6-12 feet tall in its natural woodland habitat, Sweet Azalea thrives in dappled shade. This North American native develops an open, airy growth habit that blends beautifully into naturalistic garden designs.
8. Autumn Amethyst
Lavender-purple blooms appear twice yearly on this remarkable reblooming azalea. The first flush comes in spring, followed by a second show in fall when most garden plants have finished flowering for the season.
Part of the popular Encore series, Autumn Amethyst grows 4 feet tall and wide with excellent cold hardiness. The evergreen foliage takes on attractive purple tones in winter, adding seasonal interest to the landscape.
9. Northern Hi-Lights
Creamy white flowers with striking yellow upper petals make this cold-hardy azalea a standout in northern gardens. The fragrant blooms appear in late spring just as the plant leafs out, creating a magical effect in woodland settings.
Developed at the University of Minnesota, this deciduous variety survives temperatures down to -40°F. Growing 4-5 feet tall and wide, Northern Hi-Lights develops attractive burgundy fall foliage before dropping its leaves for winter.
10. Hino Crimson
Brilliant scarlet-red blooms blanket this low-growing azalea in early spring, creating a carpet of vibrant color. The small, single flowers appear in such profusion that the foliage completely disappears beneath the floral display.
Reaching just 2-3 feet tall and spreading 3-4 feet wide, Hino Crimson makes an excellent ground cover or front-of-border plant. This evergreen variety maintains attractive bronze-tinged foliage in winter, adding year-round interest to the garden.
11. Conversation Piece
Multicolored blooms make this azalea truly unique – each plant produces flowers in varying shades of pink, white, and rose, sometimes with striking stripes or sectors of different colors. The large, 3-inch flowers create a spectacular display in mid-spring.
Growing 2-3 feet tall and wide, this compact evergreen fits perfectly in smaller gardens. Conversation Piece belongs to the Southern Indica group and prefers milder climates, thriving best in USDA zones 7-9.
12. Formosa
Magenta-purple flowers up to 3 inches across make this traditional southern azalea a dramatic garden focal point. The large, single blooms appear in mid-spring, creating a massive color display that can be seen from across the yard.
One of the larger azalea varieties, Formosa can reach 8-10 feet tall and wide if left unpruned. This vigorous grower works beautifully as a privacy screen or backdrop plant in warmer climate gardens (zones 7-9).
13. Autumn Twist
Remarkable white flowers with random purple stripes and flecks make each bloom on this azalea a unique work of art. No two flowers look exactly alike, creating a fascinating display in both spring and fall thanks to its reblooming habit.
Part of the Encore series, Autumn Twist grows 4-5 feet tall with excellent disease resistance. The evergreen foliage provides structure year-round, while the bicolor blooms offer conversation-starting interest in multiple seasons.
14. Pleasant White
Enormous white blossoms up to 4 inches across cover this spectacular azalea in mid-spring. The huge, wavy-edged flowers create a snowball effect against the glossy, dark green foliage, making it a standout in partial shade gardens.
Growing 3-4 feet tall and wide, Pleasant White belongs to the Southern Indica group. This evergreen variety prefers milder climates (zones 7-9) and makes an excellent foundation planting or specimen shrub.
15. Weston’s Popsicle
Candy-pink buds open to reveal peachy-pink flowers with golden-orange flares, creating a delicious color combination reminiscent of its namesake treat. The fragrant blooms appear in late spring to early summer, later than many azalea varieties.
This deciduous native hybrid grows 4-5 feet tall with excellent cold hardiness. Weston’s Popsicle develops stunning burgundy-red fall foliage before dropping its leaves, offering multiple seasons of garden interest.
16. Purple Splendor
Rich violet-purple flowers with dramatic darker purple spotting create a regal display in mid-spring gardens. The large, wavy-edged blooms measure up to 3 inches across, standing out boldly against the plant’s dark green foliage.
Growing 3-4 feet tall and wide, Purple Splendor maintains an attractive compact form. This evergreen variety performs best in partial shade and makes a stunning companion to yellow-flowering plants for maximum color contrast.
17. Lemon Lights
Soft yellow blooms brighten spring gardens with this cold-hardy azalea variety. The fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers appear in clusters before the foliage fully emerges, creating a luminous effect in woodland settings.
Part of the Northern Lights series developed for extreme cold tolerance, Lemon Lights survives temperatures down to -35°F. This deciduous shrub grows 4-5 feet tall and develops attractive burgundy fall color before dropping its leaves for winter.
18. Rosebud
Perfectly named for its distinctive double flowers that resemble miniature roses, this charming azalea produces pink blooms that never fully open. The tight, double-petaled flowers maintain their rosebud form throughout their bloom period in mid-spring.
Growing 3-4 feet tall and wide, this evergreen variety maintains a neat, compact habit. Rosebud performs beautifully in containers or as a specimen plant where its unique flowers can be appreciated up close.
19. Mandarin Lights
Vivid tangerine-orange blooms create a tropical feel with this surprisingly cold-hardy azalea. The bright, funnel-shaped flowers appear in dense clusters in late spring, standing out dramatically against any landscape backdrop.
Another member of the Northern Lights series, this deciduous variety withstands temperatures to -35°F. Growing 4-5 feet tall and wide, Mandarin Lights offers not only spectacular spring flowers but also excellent red-burgundy fall foliage.
20. Karen
Lavender-purple flowers with darker purple spotting make this compact azalea perfect for small spaces and container gardens. The semi-double blooms appear in early spring, often among the first azaleas to flower in the garden.
Growing just 2-3 feet tall and wide, Karen maintains a naturally dense, mounded form. This evergreen variety shows excellent cold hardiness (to -15°F) and develops attractive bronze winter foliage in colder climates.