Azalea care is not difficult, but a few tips can go a long way. I have provided the information below in order to help you establish your new azalea plants and provide them with the proper care.

When Your Native Azalea Plants Arrive...
Remove plants from the box and place in a cool location until ready to plant. These plants have not been in a greenhouse, but for customers north of me - you may have to place plants in a protected area until they adjust to your winter weather. Most years we do not have any really cold weather here until after Christmas. I am in Zone 7, low temperature 10 degrees F.

Here is a List of Do Nots:
1) Do not plant azaleas deeper than they are in the pots. They are better off letting the top of the root ball be an inch above the soil level and add a light mulch around the plants. If you plant them too deep it may kill your plant.

2) Do not plant azaleas under large shallow rooted tree, such as maple, poplar or small leaf oaks. One summer during a dry spell your plant will not get enough water and you may lose it.

3) Do not use the fertilizer around you azalea that you use in your vegetable garden, it will kill your azaleas. They can not handle the high nitrogen in these fertilizers. Only use fertilizer made for azalea and rhododendron. Always follow instructions on box.

These are three common ways people kill their plants if they have never grown azaleas before.

Establishing Your New Azaleas
Azalea care is an ongoing process: It will take a couple of years for your new plants to get themselves together and really settle in. Native Azaleas have a different root system than an evergreen azalea in that the roots of Native Azaleas reach out from the plant more like tree roots. So for a couple of years you will need to check your plants during dry weather and see if it needs watering; hope for a wet summer - that is what I do. But if you have to water, give your plant a good deep soaking a couple times a week. That will be much better for the plant than a light watering ever day. Native Azaleas do not like for their roots to be in standing water for long periods of time. They prefer a lightly moist humus soil like you would find in a hard wood forest.

Where to Plant Your Native Azaleas
Native Azaleas need some sun to set flower buds and grow. If they are planted in deep shade, they kind of just sit there and won’t do much. Plant your plants in dappled shade to full sun. Now if you plant your plants in full sun the flowers will not hold up as long and do not take a northern species and stick it in full sun in the south… it will not like that. Give northern species more shade in the south and give southern species some protection from winter winds up north. In the wild, Native Azaleas are found growing in open hard wood forest, the edge of forest, along stream banks and in full sun. If you are new to Native Azaleas I suggest you start with a species or natural hybrid that grows in or near the area you live. The maps in the species section will help you decide which species to start with.