| Description | Northern Hi-Lights Azalea (Rhododendron) is a deciduous Azalea with creamy-white flowers and elegant yellow accents in spring, before the leaves emerge. |
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| Pronunciation | (roo-do-DEN-dron) |
| Plant Type | Shrubs Deciduous |
| Hardiness Zone | 5 |
| Sunlight | full sun to partial sun |
| Moisture | average to moist, water during dry periods |
| Soil & Site | Grows best in organic soil, with an acid ph of 4.0-5.5. |
| Flowers | Trumpet-shaped, in clusters, white and yellow. Flowers will be more intense early in the bloom period and fade toward the end. Start flowering before the leaves emerge; this is called hysteranthous. Also called precocious, since they bloom early in the season. |
| Leaves | Deciduous green leaves turn purple in the fall. |
| Roots | Has shallow, fibrous roots. Mulch will help protect the roots and slow water loss from the soil. |
| Dimensions | up to 5-7 feet |
| Maintenance | I like to dig a large hole, not too deep, and mix the soil with 50% peat moss or compost. Plant in a slight mound for good drainage. Add a cup or two of Ammonium sulfate (or any other acid-producing fertilizer), then add some regular fertilizer. I like to add acid fertilizer in the fall and spring. Also, you can use a liquid acid fertilizer such as Mir-acid. Any pruning should be done right after flowering. Mulch will help to slow down the loss of water |
| Cultivar Origin | Introduced by the University of Minnesota (USA) in 1994. |
| Misc Facts | Genus name comes from the Greek words rhodo meaning rose and dendron meaning tree. Transferred from the Greek name for Nerium oleander. AKA: , Northern Hi Lights Azalea |
| Author's Notes | For the best results follow the cultural rules listed above. Also give them some time. Most potted plants are not real full. |
| Notes & Reference | #144-Missouri Botanical Gardens web site (www.missouribotanicalgarden.org), Azaleas and Rhododendrons for Minnesota by Michael Zins, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum |
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