Varnadoe’s Phlox Pink Native Azalea

Rhododendron canescens ‘Varnadoe Phlox Pink’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub or Small Tree

Height at Maturity: 10-12′

Width at Maturity: 10-12′

Spacing: 14’+ for space between plants

Flower Color: Soft Pink to White

Flower Size: Medium, 2.5-3″ long

Flowering Period: Early Spring

Flower Type: Single, Trumpet-shape

Fragrant Flowers: Yes, extremely fragrant!

Foliage Color: Medium Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Shade or Mostly Shade, Dappled Shade, Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun,

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 4.5 – 6.5 (Acid to Slightly Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Heat, Humidity, Insect, Shade

Description

A beautiful Piedmont Azalea that starts blooming at a very young age, the Varnadoe’s Phlox Pink Rhododendron is a time tested, heat and humidity tolerant native azalea that produces full trusses of large, fragrant, bright to light pink flower buds that open to soft pink to white honeysuckle-like trumpet flowers that light up and fill the garden with a wonderful, spicy aroma. Plant this one near windows or close to patios, decks and other outdoor living spaces where the beautiful flowers and fragrance can be enjoyed.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 10 to 12 feet tall and equally as wide, the Varnadoes Phlox Pink Native Azalea is ideal for use as a specimen or in groupings in woodland borders or other areas of the landscape that provide dappled shade and moist but well-drained soils rich in organic matter. Can be grown as a shrub or lower branches removed to form a highly attractive small tree. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, pink theme gardens, Azalea gardens, woodland gardens, native plant gardens, and cottage gardens.

Spacing: We do not suggest planting this beauty as a hedge. Space plants 14 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this native azalea variety is not winter hardy, you can enjoy it in containers that can be moved indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Varnadoes Phlox Pink Native Azalea is very easy to grow in moist but well-drained, humus rich soil and dappled shade or morning sun with afternoon shade. Once established it is quite drought tolerant requiring supplemental water only during prolonged periods of dry summer weather. Native azaleas are very low-maintenance, requiring little if any pruning. That said, occasionally we might prune a stray branch that is growing way outside the natural form of the plant, but not so much that it would spoil the natural form of this beautiful shrub.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for native azaleas.

How To Plant & Care For Native Azaleas

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Questions? Contact Us

My Mom had a native azelia on her property., that was at least 55 yrs old. I have searched for one to own for years. I went to local dealers in Pa. With zero luck. They were often not sure what I was even describing. Then looking through Wilson Bros. Garden sight I located what has taken me 70; years to find.. I wanted a 3 gal. Size figuring it was more established, and they did not disappoint.. I know they bloom in the spring and I asked for the shipment to be delayed by 2 weeks and to please leave some buds on for me to see. Their nursery did everything I asked.. Fedex delivered a well protected 4 ft box. When I opened iit, it was absolutely perfect! Still blooming, beautiful branching, healthy Varnadoe Phlox Pink Native Azelia, sometimes in our area called Mountian Azelia’s.. perfect, it brought a huge smile to see a part of my childhood ready to plant in my yard. I called twice with questions and found a pleasant person answering. I called back to say I received my tree .and to let them know it was just what I had hoped for. I would recommend this website. They carry some hard to find items. Their company was pleasant to Oder from.———————————————Thanks for the photo! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I’ve ordered two of these azaleas at different times of the year b/c the first one was so robust. The second a little less robust upon arrival but both very well packed and in good condition. I’ve already recommended WBG to my sister who is also an avid gardener and she has already placed an order.—————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Was a little worried about shipping plant in Aug heat but arrived in very good condition. ———————————————–We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Beth | WBG 🙂

I ordered two native azaleas (this and the magenta rose flame) in early may, and both have growing very happily in my garden for the past 6 weeks. They arrived In such good condition, as did all the other plants I received; and they were already so large. I should also add that they were sent as replacements for two (cheaper) out of stock items at no extra cost. I am so impressed with the quality and customer service of Wilson bros and will definitely be ordering again.——————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Arrived in beautiful condition! Extremely well packed for shipping! This is a big, sturdy plant with lots of branches and buds. Can’t wait to see it bloom!———————————————-Hi Shari, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Varnadoes Phlox Pink Native Azalea. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens

Arrived in great condition!

I am very impressed – this was my first order with you, and I was not only pleased to find this plant on your site, but it was totally reasonable! Came in the mail quickly, and the plant is in beautiful shape. Thanks so much! ——————— WBG Reply: Hi Carolanne – Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Varnadoe’s Pink Phlox Native Azalea, and for the compliments. We hope you enjoy this beauty for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

The plant is beautiful, but I ordered a pink one and this one is white. I was very disappointed. —————– WBG Reply: Hi Lavada – We are so sorry to hear you are disappointed with the color of this native azalea. Varnadoes Phlox Pink is a selection of the Rhododendron canescens species, which typically ranges in color from pink to white. That said, Varnadoe’s Phlox Pink was named such because the flower buds and the outer flower parts are medium to light pink. As shown in the pictures on this page, which were taken at our nursery, when open the inner parts of the flower are typically a soft pink to white color. In any event, we want our customers to be happy with their purchase. If you contact Spencer Young by phone (770)573-1778 or email us at [email protected], if you want, we can arrange to ship you out a different native azalea variety that has more pink in the flower at no charge. We can’t promise the plant will be the same size as the Varnadoes. Don’t hesitate to contact us. – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens

doing well – ——— WBG Reply: Hi Tony – Very glad to hear! Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens