Hershey's Red Azalea

Hershey's Red Azalea (Rhododendron 'Hershey's Red')

Hershey's Red Azalea (Rhododendron 'Hershey's Red') is a compact evergreen azalea admired for its bright scarlet-red blooms and consistent performance in a variety of climates. A standout Kurume hybrid, this cultivar provides early-season color and holds its neat, mounding form year-round. With a reliable bloom set and vibrant hue, it's a popular choice for foundational planting, borders, and massing in landscape designs.

Distinctive Features

'Hershey's Red' typically grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, maintaining a low, rounded shape that fits well into formal and informal garden settings alike. Its small, deep green evergreen leaves offer year-round texture and color, while its vivid red single flowers appear in dense clusters during mid to late spring. The color holds well in sun and remains one of the truest reds available among azaleas.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Partial shade is ideal; tolerates full sun in cooler climates with sufficient moisture.
• Soil: Prefers acidic, well-drained soils with high organic matter content.
• Water: Moderate; consistent moisture is key, especially during blooming and establishment.
• Humidity: Thrives in moderate humidity; ensure good air circulation in densely planted areas.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9

Ideal Uses

• Foundation plantings for bright color near buildings
• Mass plantings for a blanket of red in spring
• Front of borders to add early-season drama
• Container gardening on patios in partial shade
• Formal or informal designs needing symmetry and color

Low Maintenance Care

• Maintain evenly moist soil during flowering
• Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape
• Apply fertilizer for acid-loving plants after bloom
• Generally pest-free and disease-resistant
• Mulch in fall to protect shallow roots from freeze-thaw cycles

Why Choose Hershey's Red Azalea?

• Striking, true red blooms for bold spring color
• Compact, rounded growth for low hedges and borders
• Evergreen foliage for year-round interest
• Low maintenance and easy to grow
• Reliable and uniform for mass plantings

For brilliant red color, evergreen presence, and compact reliability, Hershey's Red Azalea is a trusted choice for vibrant early spring impact and lasting landscape structure.