SCIENTIFIC NAME: Azalea x 'Mandarin Lights' (Northern Lights Hybrid)

COMMON NAME: Mandarin Lights Azalea

GARDEN SIZE: 4-5 feet tall x 3-4 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Moderate

USDA ZONE: 3 to 7

EXPOSURE: Full sun to partial sun; shelter from intense afternoon sun in hotter climates. May tolerate being in more sun if given more water (but still avoid leaving them with wet feet).

WATER & SOIL: Keep soil moist but well-drained; thrives in humus-rich, acidic soils

HABIT (FORM): Small, mounding form

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; lustrous green foliage

FLOWERS: Bright mandarin orange, showy blooms in spring, appearing before foliage

PLANT ORIGIN: Northern Lights Hybrid selected for extreme hardiness and vibrant color

WILDLIFE SUPPORT: May provide some nesting sites and shelter for birds and small mammals, but does not serve as much of a host for local insects and wildlife. May provide food for insects in the spring.

FERTILIZING: Apply a fertilizer for acid-loving plants in the early spring.

PRUNING: Remove spent flower clusters immediately after the blooms finish. Pruning is not usually needed or recommended, but may be done right after blooming is finished in late spring or early summer.

TOXICITY FLAGS: Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

USES: Hedge, Foundation planting, Specimen