What: Rhododendron ‘Girard’s Fuchsia’ was bred to withstand the harshness of an Ohio winter and still flower well on a compact plant. In late April to early May, deep fuchsia purple flowers open with lighter spotting in the throat. The large single blooms have a slightly wavy edge to the petal and cover the shrub in a brilliant haze. Dark green foliage takes on a reddish tone in the winter providing a stunning contrast for the spring flowers. Plant it under spring flowering cherries or dogwoods.
Where: This azalea is easy to grow in the Pacific Northwest. Plant it in rich well-drained or sandy soil in a location with full sun to light or open shade.
Size: Grows to 3 feet high by 4 feet wide in 10 years.
Care: Azaleas are shallow-rooted plants requiring regular watering during dry weather. Faded flowers often drop off or are quickly covered by new growth. Almost no pruning is needed to keep azaleas looking good. Adult root weevils can chew on their leaves, but this is less of a problem on plants that receive more light and regular watering.
— Richie Steffen
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