Azaleas are easy to grow if they’re planted in the right location. Under the wrong conditions, though, Azaleas will fail to thrive and bloom. Getting the right amount of sunlight can make a big difference for Azaleas, so where is the ideal spot to plant them? Do Azaleas do best in the sun or shade?
It’s widely recommended to plant Azaleas where they will get dappled sunlight filtering through trees overhead. Alternatively, Azaleas do very well with morning sun and afternoon shade. While some varieties can tolerate full sun or nearly full shade, four to six hours of sun per day is ideal.
Not sure if your Azalea is suffering from the wrong amount of sun? Curious what the signs of too much or too little light will look like in your Azalea? Want to plant Azaleas in a mostly sunny or mostly shady spot? Keep reading to learn more about how different amounts of sunlight affect Azaleas.
What Type of Light Is Best for Azaleas?
Filtered or dappled sunlight is generally considered ideal for Azaleas. Planting Azaleas under trees with open canopies can produce this effect. A spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade can also work very well.
In general, Azaleas like to get four to six hours of direct sunlight per day. Around five hours of morning sun and part shade during the afternoon is excellent. However, anything from mostly sun to part shade is usually fine. Azaleas may not be as healthy as they would be under ideal conditions, but they can do pretty well.
Latitude and elevation are factors in how much sunlight Azaleas should get. In northern latitudes, the sun is less direct, so Azaleas like more of it. Near the equator and at high altitudes, the sun is more intense, so Azaleas need more protection from it. You should also consider how cloudy your climate is.
Azaleas are divided into two main categories: deciduous and evergreen. Deciduous Azaleas, which lose their leaves in winter, can tolerate more sun, while evergreen Azaleas need more shade.
Can an Azalea Live in Full Sun?
Too much direct sunlight can be harmful to Azaleas, but some varieties can thrive in full or nearly full sun. Types of Azaleas recommended for sunny environments include:
- Deciduous Azalea varieties
- Piedmont Azaleas
- Southern Indica varieties (sometimes called Sun Azaleas), such as Formosas
- Encore Azaleas
- Perfecto Mundo series
- Aromi hybrids
- Flame Creeper Azaleas
Azaleas grow and bloom differently in very sunny locations. The flowers don’t last as long since they tend to wilt in the sun, but there will be more flowers in a sunny spot than in a shady spot. It’s a tradeoff between the number of flowers and how long they last. Azalea shrubs also tend to be smaller and more compact in sunny environments.
If your Azaleas get a lot of sun, make sure they also get enough water. Plenty of watering to keep the soil constantly moist can help Azaleas to tolerate more direct sun. Be careful not to drown them, though; Azaleas hate wet feet.
What To Expect If Your Azalea Has Too Much Sunlight
Without enough protection from the sun, Azaleas can suffer from drought and sunburn and may even die. Their leaves can look wilted, turn yellow or brown, and curl up. Flowers may last only a few days, and the plant may have a shorter lifespan. They will also be more vulnerable to diseases and insect problems.
Azalea leaves can be scorched by the sun. Brown spots on the leaves, especially around the edges and tips, can be a sign of sunburn. Yellow leaves may be the result of too much sun or other causes (like soil that isn’t ideal-read more on that here), so to see if the sun is the culprit, check which leaves are yellowing. If the lower and inner leaves – shaded by other parts of the plant – are not affected, then the sun is probably the problem.
There are also several reasons Azalea leaves might curl up, one of which is dryness. If your Azalea gets a lot of sun and its leaves are curling, give it plenty of water and consider mulching around your Azaleas to help keep the soil moist.
Sun also warms up the soil, which increases the risk of root rot, especially if the soil is moist. Mulch can help prevent root rot by keeping the soil around the roots cooler. If your soil is warm, you should also make sure it has plenty of organic material to help it drain properly. To read more about mulching Azaleas, click here.
Can an Azalea Live in Full Shade?
Azaleas generally do not thrive in full shade. Most varieties need at least a couple of hours of sunlight per day. That said, some Azaleas do better in the shade than others, and there are benefits to growing Azaleas in a shadier spot.
Under less sunny conditions, Azalea shrubs grow longer stems as they stretch towards the light. This can yield a fuller and more graceful shape. Too much shade, though, and Azaleas will look leggy.
While Azaleas in shadier locations tend to have fewer blossoms, the blooms last longer than blooms that get more sun. The flowers can also be larger in the shade. More shade is good for Azaleas that bloom in late spring or early summer, as the sun is hotter at that time. But without enough sun, Azaleas don’t bloom at all. Azalea varieties recommended for shadier spots include:
- Belgian Indica varieties
- Kurume Azaleas
- Rutherfordiana hybrids
- Flame Azaleas
- Maid in the Shade collection
What To Expect If Your Azalea Has Too Little Sunlight
In too much shade, Azaleas produce fewer leaves and flowers. They may look spindly, sparse, and generally unhealthy. Azaleas can die without enough sun.
Just as with too much sun, Azaleas that don’t get enough light are less healthy, and as a result, are more prone to health problems. Azaleas planted in the shade are vulnerable to bugs and diseases.
If your Azaleas aren’t blooming, or if they look sparse and leggy, you may want to transplant them or trim other plants that are shading the Azaleas. Removing some branches from trees above Azaleas can allow more sun to get through.
How to Transplant Mature Azaleas to Better Locations
So you’ve realized that your Azaleas are getting too much sun or too much shade, and you want to move them to a better spot. How do you do it?
The best time to transplant Azaleas is in the fall if you live in a hot climate or in early spring if you live in a cold climate. Azaleas go dormant in the winter, and it’s best to transplant them in this state.
First, dig the new hole. It should be approximately twice as wide as it is deep. Then dig up the Azalea, starting about twelve inches out from the trunk. Take care to feel for the roots and get as many as possible. Azaleas have shallow roots, so you probably won’t need to go much deeper than about twelve inches.
Use a wheelbarrow or a tarp to move the plant to the new spot. Plant it right away, leaving the top of the root ball just above the soil level. Fill the hole in with soil, cover the soil with mulch (leave a gap between the trunk and the mulch), and water thoroughly.
You can also transfer your Azalea to a container. This makes it easy to move the plant around until you find the perfect spot for it.
The Best Spot for Your Azaleas
Azaleas like a happy medium of sun and shade – not too bright, not too dark, but just right. Given too much direct, hot sun or not enough light, Azaleas look less healthy, will bloom less, and may die.
There are some tradeoffs between sunnier and shadier locations for Azaleas. More sun means more flowers, but the flowers last longer in the shade. Azaleas also stay more compact in sunnier spots and grow into more elegant shapes in shadier spots.
Some Azaleas may grow just fine in full sun or mostly shade, depending on the variety and the climate, but the best locations provide a mix of sun and shade. Azaleas definitely need sun, just not too much.