The Most Beautiful Azalea, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the Azalea you think is the most beautiful!

Updated on May 12, 2024 06:17

Gardeners and nature enthusiasts often debate over which types of flowers stand out as the most stunning. Among the wide variety of blooms, Azaleas, with their vibrant colors and lush foliage, consistently capture attention. However, with so many species and hybrids, determining the most beautiful Azalea can be a subjective and engaging challenge. By participating in rankings like these, you contribute to a collective appreciation of natural beauty. Each vote helps to highlight particular features that make certain Azaleas stand above the rest, whether it's their color, shape, or overall impact. This dynamic list not only informs but also inspires by showing which Azaleas are favored by the community.

What Is the Most Beautiful Azalea?

1

45
votes
Rhododendron 'Gibraltar'

Gable and Steiner

This Azalea has large, bright orange flowers that bloom in mid-spring, making it a standout in any landscape.
Rhododendron 'Gibraltar' is a stunning azalea cultivar renowned for its vibrant and eye-catching flowers. The plant features large clusters of trumpet-shaped blooms that range in color from fiery orange to reddish-orange, creating a mesmerizing display.

Flower Color: Fiery orange to reddish-orange

Bloom Size: Large

Bloom Form: Trumpet-shaped

Foliage Type: Evergreen

Mature Size: 3-4 feet tall and wide
2

32
votes
Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman'

Named after the famous rhododendron grower and hybridizer, this Azalea produces delicate, pale pink flowers that are simply stunning.
Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman' is a gorgeous Azalea variety known for its stunning floral display. It features exquisite pale pink to white flowers with delicate pink veining, making it a true showstopper in any garden or landscape. The blooms appear in late spring to early summer, creating a vibrant burst of color. This Azalea cultivar is a compact shrub with a dense and bushy growth habit, reaching a height and spread of around 3 to 4 feet. The dark green foliage provides an attractive backdrop to the beautiful flowers. Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman' is a reliable bloomer and considered one of the most charming Azaleas available.

Flower Color: Pale pink to white with pink veining

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Growth Habit: Compact, dense, and bushy

Height: 3 to 4 feet

Spread: 3 to 4 feet
3

26
votes
Rhododendron 'Stewartstonian'

Gable Hybridizers, USA

This Azalea has deep red flowers that are sure to turn heads. Its compact growth habit makes it ideal for small gardens and containers.
Rhododendron 'Stewartstonian' is a stunning evergreen azalea cultivar with vibrant red flowers. It is known for its abundant blooms and attractive glossy green foliage. The flowers start as bright red buds and open to become large, single, funnel-shaped blossoms with dark red blotches. 'Stewartstonian' is a popular choice among gardeners for its exceptional beauty and reliable performance.

Flower Color: Bright red with dark red blotches

Bloom Time: Mid-spring

Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Foliage: Glossy green

Mature Size: 3-4 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide
4

17
votes
Rhododendron 'Glacier'

With its stunning white flowers and dark green foliage, this Azalea is a true showstopper. It blooms in mid-spring and is perfect for borders, hedges, or mass plantings.
The Rhododendron 'Glacier' is a stunning variety of Azalea, known for its exceptional beauty and striking appearance. Its captivating flowers and foliage add a touch of elegance to any garden or landscape.

Flower Color: White with delicate pink streaks

Bloom Form: Large, single flowers with wavy edges

Blooming Season: Spring to early summer

Foliage: Dark green, glossy leaves

Mature Size: Up to 4 feet in height and width
5

9
votes
Rhododendron 'Karen'

This Azalea produces large, vivid pink flowers that bloom in mid-spring. Its compact growth habit and disease resistance make it a popular choice for gardeners.
Rhododendron 'Karen' is a stunning hybrid azalea known for its vibrant and abundant blooms. The flowers showcase a deep pink hue with hints of purple, creating a captivating display of color. The compact and dense foliage provides an attractive backdrop to the blossoms, further enhancing its visual appeal. 'Karen' is a popular choice among azalea enthusiasts for its exceptional beauty and reliable performance.

Growth Rate: Slow

Bloom Color: Deep pink with hints of purple

Foliage Type: Evergreen

Plant Height: 2 to 3 feet

Plant Spread: 3 to 4 feet
6

11
votes
Rhododendron 'Hinodegiri'

With its bright red flowers and glossy green leaves, this Azalea is a favorite of gardeners and landscapers alike. It blooms in mid-spring and has a compact growth habit.
Rhododendron 'Hinodegiri' is a stunning variety of Azalea that is highly admired for its captivating beauty. It is known for its dense, compact growth habit, which makes it an excellent choice for container gardening or small gardens. The 'Hinodegiri' cultivar features vibrant, deep crimson-red flowers that bloom profusely in the spring, creating a breathtaking display of color.

Flower Color: Crimson-red

Bloom Time: Spring

Growth Habit: Dense and compact

Suitable for: Container gardening, small gardens

Height: 2-3 feet
7

13
votes
Rhododendron 'Girard's Fuchsia'

Hybridizer Joseph Gable

This Azalea has deep fuchsia-colored flowers that are simply stunning. It blooms in mid-spring and has a compact, bushy growth habit.
Rhododendron 'Girard's Fuchsia' is a beautiful azalea variety known for its stunning fuchsia-pink flowers and compact size. The flowers bloom in late spring, creating a vibrant display of color. The foliage is dark green and glossy, providing an attractive backdrop to the vibrant blooms. This azalea is ideal for small gardens, containers, or as a border plant.

Flower color: Fuchsia-pink

Bloom time: Late spring

Foliage: Dark green, glossy

Plant size: Compact

Growth habit: Upright
8

11
votes
Rhododendron 'Fashion'

This Azalea has pink and white flowers that are simply breathtaking. It blooms in mid-spring and is perfect for borders, hedges, or mass plantings.
Rhododendron 'Fashion' is a stunning azalea hybrid known for its vibrant and showy blooms. The flowers are a vivid shade of magenta, with delicate ruffled edges that add a touch of elegance. The plant itself has an upright and compact growth habit, making it perfect for small gardens or container planting. 'Fashion' blooms in late spring to early summer, creating a striking display of color. The glossy, dark green foliage provides a beautiful backdrop to the vibrant flowers.

Bloom Color: Magenta

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Flower Type: Single

Foliage Color: Dark green

Growth Habit: Upright, compact
9

6
votes
Rhododendron 'Mandarin Lights'

University of Minnesota

This Azalea has bright orange flowers that are sure to turn heads. It blooms in mid-spring and has a compact growth habit.
Rhododendron 'Mandarin Lights' is a stunning azalea variety known for its vibrant display of orange-red blooms. The flowers form in clusters and cover the plant, creating a spectacular show in spring. This compact, deciduous shrub features dark green foliage that turns reddish-bronze in fall, adding an extra touch of beauty to the landscape.

Bloom Color: Orange-red

Foliage Color: Dark green (turns reddish-bronze in fall)

Plant Type: Shrub

Flower Form: Clustered

Bloom Season: Spring
10

13
votes
KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0

Rhododendron 'Satsuki'

This Azalea has small, delicate flowers that come in a variety of colors. It blooms in late spring and is perfect for borders, hedges, or mass plantings.
The Rhododendron 'Satsuki' is a variety of azalea known for its exceptionally beautiful and abundant flowers. Its name 'Satsuki' comes from the Japanese word for the month of May, which is the prime blooming time for this stunning plant. The flowers of 'Satsuki' azalea come in a wide range of colors, including shades of pink, purple, red, and white. The blooms are usually large, trumpet-shaped, and have a delightful fragrance.

Flower Color: Various colors including pink, purple, red, and white

Bloom Time: May

Flower Shape: Trumpet-shaped

Foliage Type: Evergreen

Mature Height: 2-4 feet (0.6-1.2 meters)

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Ranking factors for beautiful Azalea

Bloom time and duration

Different azalea varieties bloom at various times throughout the spring, with some blooming earlier than others. You may also want to consider the duration of the blooming period – some azaleas have longer blooming periods than others, providing a longer display of beauty in your garden.
Plant size and shape

Azaleas vary in size and growth habit, from low-growing ground covers to tall, shrub-like forms. Choose an azalea based on the desired size and shape for your garden or landscape design.
Foliage characteristics

While azaleas are primarily known for their flowers, their foliage can also contribute to their overall beauty. Some azaleas have evergreen leaves, while others are deciduous. Additionally, certain azalea varieties have unique leaf colors or patterns, such as variegated or gold foliage.
Fragrance

Some azalea varieties are fragrant, adding an extra element of beauty through their delightful scent.
Disease and pest resistance

Some azaleas are more resistant to common diseases and pests than others. A beautiful azalea that is resistant to diseases and pests will require less maintenance and be healthier overall.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most beautiful Azalea. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Azalea is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1974 views
181 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Azalea once every 24 hours. The rank of each Azalea is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most beautiful azalea

Azaleas are a type of flowering shrub that are renowned for their stunning and vibrant blooms. These beautiful plants are native to Asia, particularly Japan and China, and have become popular ornamental plants in gardens and parks around the world. There are over 10,000 known varieties of azaleas, with a wide range of colors and sizes to choose from. In Japan, azaleas are often associated with the arrival of spring and are celebrated in annual festivals, while in China they are considered a symbol of femininity and beauty. Whether you're a gardening enthusiast or simply appreciate the beauty of nature, azaleas are a stunning addition to any landscape.