Tyler is known statewide for its beautiful Azalea Trail, with thousands of colorful shrubs lavishly painting the landscape in shades of salmon, pink, red, magenta and white. After the azalea blooms peak mid-March through early April, they fade away to be replaced by cool, green foliage that remains throughout the year.
Early April does not have to end the azalea display in your garden. There are many varieties of azaleas that bloom in April and early May, and even new varieties that re-bloom in the fall. These late blooming varieties require the same acidic, well-drained soil and partial shade as the early blooming shrubs.
Here are some of the late blooming azaleas that grow well in our area and are usually available at local nurseries:
Tall Growth Habit (6-8 feet)
- Pride of Mobile - medium-size watermelon pink blooms
- Judge Solomon - medium-size deep pink blooms
- Glory - medium-size peach/pink blooms
- Glacier - snow white medium-size blooms with a round growth habit
- Wakaebisu - medium-size salmon pink blooms on a low, spreading shrub
- Gumpo - varieties have white or pink medium-size blooms on a shrub with spreading growth; variegated foliage is also available.
Fall is a great time to plant azaleas for color next year. Be sure and keep in mind the mature height of the plant and purchase varieties that will fit your site. That will eliminate the need to prune shrubs whose natural growth overwhelms their available space. Any pruning should be done immediately following bloom, as the buds for next year's bloom are formed in the summer.
LuAnne Ray, Smith County Master Gardener
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