Finding Beautiful Orange Azalea Bushes Near Me

Orange azalea bushes are one of my favorite flowering shrubs. Their bold orange blooms are absolutely stunning in the springtime. If you’re looking to add some bright color to your landscaping orange azaleas are a great choice. The best part is they’re very low maintenance once established. In this article I’ll discuss tips for selecting orange azalea bushes, proper planting and care, and where to find these beauties near me.

Orange azaleas also known as mollis azaleas are deciduous shrubs that put on an impressive display of color in spring. They produce large clusters of orange trumpet-shaped flowers that come in various shades of orange from soft apricot to deep burnt orange. Some popular orange azalea varieties include Gibralter, Feuerzauber (Fire Magic), and Marmalade Skies.

One of the best qualities of azaleas is they bloom after forsythias but before most other spring-flowering shrubs. This extends the flowering season so you can enjoy weeks of color in your garden. Once they finish blooming, orange azaleas produce green summer foliage that turns beautiful shades of orange and red in the fall.

Azaleas do best in zones 5-9. They prefer well-drained, acidic soil and light to partial shade locations. Established azalea bushes are quite drought tolerant and require minimal care. Just be sure to water during dry spells and fertilize in early spring before buds open.

Selecting Healthy Orange Azalea Bushes

When shopping for orange azalea bushes, look for plants with a well-branched rounded shape. Avoid scraggly or sparse plants. The foliage should be green and healthy looking without spots or discoloration. Examine the roots and make sure they are white in color and not dried out.

For the greatest impact, select bushes with multiple flower buds visible. Budded plants will put on the best floral display their first spring in the ground. Potted azaleas can be planted any time of the year, but spring and fall are best.

Opt for larger plant sizes like 3-gallon or 5-gallon containers for more instant landscape gratification. Larger azalea plants will establish more quickly than smaller starts and give you more flowers the first season.

Where to Buy Orange Azalea Bushes

My favorite places to shop for orange azalea bushes near me are:

• Local nurseries and garden centers – I’ve found the best selection and prices for potted azaleas at independent nurseries. They often carry unique varieties you won’t find at big box stores.

• The Home Depot – For convenience, I sometimes buy azaleas and other landscape plants at Home Depot. The one near me typically stocks a decent selection of orange and other azalea varieties from spring through fall.

• Online mail order – Websites like Nature Hills Nursery have a great online selection of potted azaleas that can be shipped directly to your door. This is a good option if local sources don’t have what you’re looking for.

• Arbor Day Foundation – Non-profit Arbor Day sells bare root azaleas and ships them at the proper spring planting time. Bare root plants are cheaper but take longer to establish.

No matter where you buy them, always inspect azalea bushes carefully before purchasing. Make sure you’ll be getting healthy, vigorous plants that are worth your investment.

How to Plant Orange Azalea Bushes

Here are some tips for getting your new orange azalea bushes off to the best start:

Site preparation – Choose a planting site with well-draining soil and light afternoon shade. Improve drainage by mixing in peat moss or compost. Azaleas do not tolerate soggy soil.

Dig wide holes – The holes should be about twice as wide as the azalea’s root ball or spread of bare roots. This loosens the soil for good root growth.

Plant at proper depth – Plant so the top of the root ball sits right at ground level. Bare roots should sit slightly higher with the first set of branches just above soil level.

Water thoroughly – Water deeply after planting to eliminate air pockets and soak soil 8-10 inches down. Continue watering regularly for the first two years.

Use acidic fertilizer – Feed with azalea fertilizer after planting and in early spring each year. Rhododendrons and azaleas need acidic soil and fertilizer to thrive.

Apply mulch – Cover soil around plants with 2-3 inches of pine bark mulch to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature. Keep mulch a couple inches back from the stems.

Caring for Orange Azalea Bushes

Azaleas are some of the easiest flowering shrubs to grow. Once established, they require minimal care besides yearly pruning and fertilizing. Here are some tips:

• Water 1-2 inches per week during dry weather. Soak the entire root zone thoroughly.

• Apply acidic fertilizer each spring before blooms open. Use at manufacturer’s recommended rate.

• Prune immediately after flowering. Remove spent blooms and shape plants by selectively trimming branches.

• Reapply fresh pine bark mulch around plants every 2-3 years. Mulch conserves moisture and replenishes soil as it decomposes.

• Remove spent flowers and seed pods after blooming to promote new bud development. Deadheading keeps plants looking neat.

• Divide overgrown azalea bushes in early spring. This stimulates new growth and rejuvenates older plants.

By providing orange azaleas with well-drained acidic soil and optimal spring nutrition, their growth and flowering will be greatly enhanced. A little pruning and mulching is all they need to thrive for decades.

Enhance Landscapes with Orange Azalea Bushes

Vibrant orange azalea bushes are sure to make a bold statement in any garden or landscape. Here are some creative ways to showcase their colorful blooms:

• Plant a row or cluster of 3-5 orange azalea bushes as a colorful hedge or foundation planting.

• Use them as striking feature plants beside entrances or in mixed borders.

• Underplant orange azaleas with white, pink or purple flowering groundcovers like phlox or ajuga.

• Combine with evergreens like boxwoods and junipers for nice contrast when not in bloom.

• Mass azaleas together for stunning color impact or plant them individually as specimen plants.

• Plant in containers on patios and decks for cheery spring color. They work nicely in window boxes too.

With their brilliant orange blossoms and lush green foliage, azaleas are one of the prettiest flowering shrubs for the landscape. I hope these tips will help you find and grow gorgeous orange azalea bushes near your home this spring. Let their fiery flowers light up your garden with vibrant color!