Girard's Pleasant White Azalea will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.
This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It requires evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth but will die in standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
Girard's Pleasant White Azalea is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.
This is a relatively low-maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Hardiness | 5,6,7,8 |
| Heat Zones | 5,6,7,8 |
| Climate Zones | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Ericaceae |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring, Summer, Fall, Early Spring, Mid Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer |
| Height | 3' - 4', 4' - 5' |
| Spread | 2' - 3', 4' - 5' |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Acid |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Attracts Butterflies |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Japanese Garden |
| Planting Place | Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens, Small Gardens |