Introduction

Profuse, pink springtime blooms are so plentiful and large that they completely hide the foliage, making 'George Taber' azalea a favorite landscape shrub in the south. This large, spreading evergreen azalea is most impressive when used in mass plantings but makes an attractive specimen planting as well. Plant in mass on 4- to 6-foot centers.

General Information

Scientific name: Rhododendron x 'George Tabor'

Pronunciation: roe-duh-DEN-drun

Common name(s): 'George Taber' azalea

Family: Ericaceae

Plant type: shrub

USDA hardiness zones: 8 through 10 (Figure 1)

Planting month for zone 8: year round

Planting month for zone 9: year round

Planting month for zone 10: year round

Origin: not native to North America

Uses: mass planting; specimen; attracts butterflies; cut flowers; foundation

Availability: generally available in many areas within its hardiness range

Description

Height: 10 to 12 feet

Spread: 8 to 10 feet

Plant habit: round

Plant density: moderate

Growth rate: slow

Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: ovate

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no fall color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: pink

Flower characteristic: spring flowering; winter flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: elongated

Fruit length: .5 to 1 inch

Fruit cover: dry or hard

Fruit color: brown

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not particularly showy; typically multi-trunked or clumping stems.