Photograph by Ralf Bauer
Nothing says spring in Atlanta quite like azaleas. The fragrant blooms, ranging in color from white to pink to fiery orange, first appear in early March, transforming the Southern landscape into a blaze of color.
For Atlanta gardeners, the burst of azalea blooms can seem all too quick, leaving behind a humdrum bush of green leaves. But with some thoughtful planting, it’s possible to enjoy azaleas all the way into deep summer.
“Our native azaleas are deciduous and bloom at different times,” says Charles Andrews, a member and former president of the Atlanta-based Azalea Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. “If you choose your species correctly, you can have blooms from April into September.”
Andrews, a retired systems engineer, first stumbled upon a fragrant sweet azalea on a trout-fishing trip. He began studying them in earnest about 45 years ago, often trekking through Georgia forests with a jeweler’s loupe and a notebook to find native specimens. “We should plant more azaleas in our gardens,” says Andrews, who is currently writing a book about the history and characteristics of his favorite flowers. “They are easy to grow, and you can have a kaleidoscope of colors.”
Planting a season’s worth of blooming azaleas requires a bit of planning and knowledge; here are some of Andrews’s tips to make the most of your garden.
Photograph by Ralf Bauer
Photograph by Ralf Bauer
Know your blooms
Azaleas come in a dizzying number of varieties: The United States is home to 17 native species, 12 of which grow in Georgia. To enjoy a summer’s worth of blooms, Andrews recommends selecting four or five azalea species and planting several bushes of each: The accompanying infographic offers a selection of native options.
Check out master-gardener and native-plant sales
You’ll generally find only early-blooming azaleas at major garden centers, Andrews says: “Nurseries tend not to sell plants that bloom in July, so unfortunately people don’t know about these other cultivars.” Instead, check out more specialist sales, like the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s native plant sale, held from March 27 to 28 and April 3 to 4, or the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County plant sale, held at Jim R. Miller Park Equestrian Arena from April 17 to 18.
Tend your azaleas as the experts do
Andrews recommends planting native azaleas 8 to 10 feet apart, with plenty of space between them and your house foundation. Plant in Hula-Hoop–sized holes the depth of a shovel. “Their roots go way out, but only down into the first 12 inches of the soil,” he explains. When refilling the hole, mix in some coarse sand and organic material (Andrews uses finely-ground pine bark): Atlanta’s soil is mostly oxygen-limited clay, so the added material helps your plants breathe. Fertilize twice a year with a slow-release fertilizer that has added micronutrients, and start pruning your bushes before late fall, when incoming cold can wipe out new growth.
| Name | Color | Blooms |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Azalea | Yellow or golden-yellow | March to April |
| Piedmont Azalea | Pink to white | March to April |
| Oconee Azalea | Yellow to orange or red | April to Mid-May |
| May White Azalea | White and yellow or pink blush | May |
| Swamp Azalea | White to pinkish tinge | Mid-May to June |
| Sweet Azalea | White with yellow or pink | May to June |
| Plumleaf Azalea | Light orange to vivid red | July to Aug./Sept. |
| Hammock Sweet Azalea | White or pale pink | July to Aug./Sept. |
This article appears in our April 2026 issue.
