Hot Pink Bloom-A-Thon® Azalea

The arrival of reblooming azaleas a few years back showed us that if azaleas in spring are good, then azaleas in fall are even better. Now that we can enjoy these gorgeous blooms for up to 20 weeks of the year, we want them everywhere. That is not so easy, since the Encore azaleas – probably the most well-known reblooming type – need plenty of sunshine to do their thing and bloom in fall. Most gardens have plenty of shade, and azaleas are traditionally associated with shady areas, so how can we enjoy reblooming in less sunny parts of the garden? The answer is with Bloom-A-Thon® azaleas. This select group are known for their large, brightly-colored blooms, but they are also much more shade-tolerant than other types. If you have shady beds to plant, then look no further than these great shrubs. A select group, with just 5 colors available, for brightness in those shadier spots you can’t beat the Hot Pink Bloom-A-Thon® Azalea. Its vibrant blooms stand out across the garden, glowing with a richness and purity of tone that everyone loves. “Choose me!” they say, and you won’t regret choosing this dense, rounded bush that is perfect for all your garden beds.

Growing the Hot Pink Bloom-A-Thon® Azalea

Size and Appearance

The Hot Pink Azalea is a bushy, mounding evergreen shrub that grows quickly and vigorously, reaching a mature size of around 4 feet tall and wide. The small leaves give it a neat form and attractive look, even in the short period it is not in bloom. The oval leaves are no more than 2 inches long, and dark green, with a velvety touch from the soft short hairs that cover them. They take wind, rain and cold well, and although some leaves may drop through winter in the coldest zones, they generally stays green and fresh all year round.

The flowering period is incredibly long, starting in April in most areas, with a big spring display lasting into May. After all that work the bush takes a brief rest, while new stems develop, but by July scattered blooms have returned, gradually increasing through the summer until by September and October it puts on another big display. As colder weather comes, blooming ends, and the buds developed at this time stay dormant until spring returns, ensuring you another year of beauty. Those blooms certainly are beautiful, and the blossoms are large, often 4½ inches across, like big flamboyant trumpets. They cluster in groups of 2 or 3 at the ends of every branch, and individual flowers last a good week, before dropping cleanly, with no need to dead-head. The color is a rich, bright pink-red that really shines, while the summer blooms are darker, redder and just as beautiful. The throat and inside of the bloom are highlighted with dark-red spots and streaks, adding to the richness of the display put on by this colorful azalea.

Using the Hot Pink Bloom-A-Thon® Azalea in Your Garden

This robust rounded shrub is perfect for the middle part of your beds, or among clipped evergreens in the foundation planting around your home. It fits well under deciduous trees too, and in natural woodland areas as well. Plant a row to hide an ugly fence or grow one in a large tub. Wherever you use it you will love its long bloom season and bright coloring.

Hardiness

The Hot Pink Azalea is completely hardy in zones 7, 8 and 9. It also grows well in sheltered spots in zone 6, flowering well. It may lose some leaves and be semi-evergreen in colder zones.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Hot Pink Azalea will grow well in a wide range of light conditions, from full sun in cooler zones to full shade. Morning sun and afternoon shade are ideal. It is very useful for shadier spots, where it grows, and blooms, better than Encore azaleas do. The soil should be moist, well-drained and rich, and adding plenty of lime-free organic material when planting, and as spring mulch, is very helpful. The soil should be acidic, with a pH value of 5.5 or less. It is hard to modify alkaline soil, so instead simply grow it in a planter or tub, using potting soil designed for acid-loving plants.

Maintenance and Pruning

You will find azaleas surprisingly easy to grow well, as long as the soil is acidic, and they are in suitable light conditions. Mulch in spring, use azalea fertilizer, especially for plants growing in pots, and water regularly during dry weather. Pests and diseases are rarely problems, and you don’t need to trim. Some growers find it helpful to trim immediately after the first spring flowering, as this stimulates lots of new stems, which means plenty of later blooms. Don’t ever trim in summer, as this removes developing flower buds.

History and Origin of the Hot Pink Bloom-A-Thon® Azalea

The Bloom-A-Thon® Azaleas were created by Robert Head, a breeder from Seneca, North Carolina. who also created the ReBLOOM™ varieties. He selected five outstanding plants among the many he has bred, notable for their hardiness, sturdy growth and particularly for their bright, clear flower colors. This collection is distributed by Proven Winners®, a brand of a consortium of several major growers, managed by Spring Meadow Nursery. To make the plant called Hot Pink, Robert Head crossed together two seedlings (RLH-1900-RP and RLH-1000-AS) he had created by other crosses of many different azalea varieties. Among the seedlings from this cross one stood out, and he named it ‘RLH1-11P1’ when applying for a patent, which he received in 2017.

Buying the Hot Pink Bloom-A-Thon® Azalea at The Tree Center

Pink is always a great color to see in the garden, it is so bright and vibrant. The Hot Pink Bloom-A-Thon® Azalea is incredibly eye-catching, and with 20 weeks of bloom you will find it soon becomes a celebrity in your garden. Order now, because these plants sell out fast.