SCIENTIFIC NAME: Azalea x Girard hybrid 'Girard's Crimson'

COMMON NAME: Girard's Crimson Evergreen Azalea

GARDEN SIZE: 2-4 feet tall x 3-4 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Slow

USDA ZONE: 5 to 8

EXPOSURE: Part Sun.

WATER & SOIL: Keep soil moist but well-drained (no wet feet); prefers humus-rich, acidic soil. Avoid heavy clay.

HABIT (FORM): Dense, compact shrub with a rounded form

FOLIAGE: Evergreen; glossy green foliage providing year-round interest

FLOWERS: Large, rosy-red crimson blooms; showy, repeat flowering in spring

PLANT ORIGIN: Hybrid selected for vibrant color and compact form

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