Southern Indian Azalea Rhododendron indicum

Southern Indian azalea is a small, semi-evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family that is native to Japan. This compact azalea has a mature size of about 2 to 3 feet in both height and width. While it has a dense canopy it can spread. The genus name, Rhododendron, derives from the Greek words rhodo, which means rose, and dendron, meaning tree.  

This plant prefers partial shade and acicic well drained soil that is moist and high in organic material. It is intolerant of heavy and wet soils, drought, and excessive fertilization. It has a slow growth rate and requires a high level of maintenance including removing spent flower clusters immediately after flowering.  

Southern Indian azalea has showy, hot pink to burgundy flowers that bloom in mid to late spring and occasionally again in the fall. It works well in the landscape as an understory shrub mass planted or in small groups in woodland or naturalized areas, or as specimens in pollinator gardens where the flowers will attract bees. It can also be used as a low hedge or in a winter garden where its leaves turn attractive shades of red.  

Quick ID Hints:

• Small shrub, sympodial growth, with crowded evergreen leaves in tiers
• Twigs & leaves covered with reddish-brown hairs 
• Flowers axillary, single in spring with funnel-form corolla
• Calyx 5-lobed, elongated & pointed

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect problems include aphids, borers, lace bugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, nematodes, scale, thrips, and whitefly. Diseases include canker, crown rot, root rot, leaf spot, rust, and powdery mildew. 

While these shrubs remain very popular for landscape use, many cultivars are susceptible to Phytophthora root rot—this leads to leaf loss, reduced vigor, branch dieback, and wilting. Implement good cultural practices first, such as improving drainage with organic matter or berms and avoiding overwatering or overfertilization. However, if you have a site with a history of this disease, consider planting one of the root rot-resistant alternative species listed in the left-hand sidebar. 

For suitable alternatives, see this video created by Charlotte Glen as part of the Plants, Pests, and Pathogens series.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Rhododendron.