George Tabor azalea

Sun

Partial shade, ideally morning sun and afternoon shade; tolerates more sun where the soil stays evenly moist.

Water

Keep the shallow root zone evenly moist but never waterlogged; water deeply during dry spells, especially while establishing.

Soil

Acidic, humus-rich, well-drained soil, ideally pH 4.5-6.0; unsuitable for chalky soil unless grown in a raised bed or container with ericaceous compost.

Height

6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m)

Spread

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m)

Flowers

Mid- to late spring; large, single, pale pink to lavender-pink flowers with paler margins and a prominent darker blotch.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small to medium, oval, dark green leaves; some older leaves may drop during cold weather or drought.

Growth

Moderate; can grow larger with age in favourable conditions.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.7 ft (0.82 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.1 m)

4. After 3 years

   5 ft (1.5 m)

5. After 5 years

   7 ft (2.1 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the top of the root ball level with, or slightly above, the surrounding soil; do not bury the crown.
• Water at soil level during dry weather, checking beneath the mulch before watering again.
• Maintain 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of pine bark or leaf mould mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• If growth is weak, apply a labelled azalea fertiliser after flowering; avoid heavy feeding and late-season nitrogen.
• Avoid digging or cultivating beneath the branches because the roots are shallow.

Pruning. Prune immediately after flowering, shortening stray shoots and removing dead or damaged wood. Avoid routine shearing or late-summer pruning, which removes developing flower buds.

Spring

Check soil moisture as buds swell and water during dry spells.

Late spring

After flowering, prune only where needed and feed lightly if growth warrants it.

Summer

Water deeply in dry weather and inspect leaf undersides for lace bugs.

Early autumn

Plant in mild climates while the soil is warm, allowing time for roots to establish.

Late autumn

Refresh the mulch without piling it against the stems.

Winter

Water during prolonged dry periods when the ground is unfrozen, and protect young plants from drying winds.

• Plant in loose groups beneath high-canopied trees for a broad spring display.
• Use behind lower shade plants such as ferns and hostas, allowing room for its mature width.
• Combine with camellias and pieris for an evergreen, acid-soil shrub border.
• Use as an informal flowering screen rather than a tightly clipped hedge.

Garden styles it suits: Southern, Woodland, Traditional, Romantic rose garden, Japanese and Pastel border.

Plant it with: Camellias, Japanese pieris, Japanese maples, Hostas, Christmas ferns and Lilyturf.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other visiting insects, while the dense branches provide cover for small birds. It is not a native shrub in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada or Australia.

• Azalea lace bugs cause pale stippling on leaves and dark spots underneath: reduce drought stress, provide afternoon shade, and treat leaf undersides with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil according to the label.
• Phytophthora root rot causes wilting and dieback in wet soil: improve drainage, avoid overwatering, and remove badly affected plants.
• Iron chlorosis produces yellow leaves with greener veins in alkaline soil: test the soil and correct the growing conditions; use ericaceous compost in containers where the ground is chalky.
• Petal blight makes flowers water-soaked and brown: remove affected and fallen blooms promptly, avoid overhead watering, and replace contaminated surface mulch.

Toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses. All parts, including leaves, flowers and nectar, contain grayanotoxins; swallowing them can cause vomiting, weakness, dangerous heart disturbances and potentially fatal poisoning. Seek urgent medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

• Formosa azalea (Rhododendron 'Formosa')

  Has a similar large, evergreen habit, but its flowers are much deeper purple-magenta rather than pale pink with pale margins.

• Mrs. G. G. Gerbing azalea (Rhododendron 'Mrs. G. G. Gerbing')

  Has a similar habit and flowering season, but bears white flowers rather than pink flowers with a dark blotch.

The cultivar honours George Lindley Taber, founder of Glen Saint Mary Nurseries in Florida; 'Tabor' is a common alternative spelling in its common name.

Propagation. Root semi-ripe cuttings in summer in an acidic, free-draining medium under humid conditions, or layer a low branch. Seed-grown plants will not reliably match the cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Rhododendron

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.