You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
There has been much talk about the Northern Lights Azaleas in recent years. And rightly so! For gardeners in zones 4 and even zone 3, they are invaluable shrubs for bright spring blooms. But even in zones 5-9, these cold hardy azaleas are still a welcome additon to the garden. Compact in size, vibrant colored, mostly fragrant and excellent fall color; sounds like the perfect shrub!
The genus Rhododendron is perhaps the most important genus of flowering shrub grown by gardeners in temperate regions of the world. Certainly, there are literally thousands of hybrids and more being developed every year! Of course, the problem with this genus is that most are not particularly hardy, especially the evergreen types. Deciduous azaleas are slightly hardier since they don’t have winter foliage. However, the standard azalea hybrids; the Exbury, Knap Hill and Ghents, are still only reliably hardy to USDA zone 5.
Recently, there has been significant breeding to develop hardier azaleas and rhododendrons. A whole series of super hardy evergreen rhododendrons are being developed in Finland, while closer to home, there is a series of very hardy deciduous azaleas called the 'Northern Lights' azaleas. These hybrids were developed at the University of Minnesota. Hybridizing started in 1957 but the first release was not until 1978. Breeding is still being carried out with two new releases in 2005. Most of the Northern Lights azaleas are hardy to -30 F or -34 C, allowing them to be successfully grown in USDA zone 4, with some even being successful in USDA zone 3. Many of these hybrids were the result of crossing the very hardy American species, R. prinophyllum and R. canadense to various Exbury-type Azaleas. While many of the resulting hybrids have smaller flowers than the standard azaleas, several do have reasonably large trusses. Many are fragrant and most have excellent red, orange and purplish fall colour. The following are the available hybrids (sorry I don't have pics of them all but my collection is still growing!):
‘Northern Lights’ - the hybrid that started it all. This one has pink flowers on a shrub to 8 feet tall, making it among the tallest of all the series. It was released in 1978.
'Pink Lights' - medium-pink flowers of medium size on a shrub reaching to 8 feet. This hybrid was developed in 1984. Unfortunately, it has proven difficult to propagate so is hard to find.
'Rosy Lights' - a deeper pink selection from the same cross that created 'Pink Lights'. It is very floriferous and more compact than ‘Pink Lights’, to 5 feet.
'Orchid Lights' - a compact hybrid using R. canadense as one of the parents. The flowers are the smallest of the Northern Lights but the plants are among the hardiest, known to survive to -40 F (-40 C). Plants form thick bushes to 3 feet. This hybrid was developed in 1986.
'Lemon Lights' - clear yellow flowers on a shrub that reaches to about 6 feet. Their flowers are reasonably large. It was released in 1996.
‘White Lights' - from pale pink buds open white flowers with the slighest hint of pink. Plants are sturdy and reach to 5 feet. It is the second hardiest in the group, next to 'Orchid Lights'. It was released in 1984.
'Mandarin Lights' - deep orange flowers, similar to those of the famous Exbury hybrid, 'Gibraltar'. The trusses are fairly large and plants reach 6-8 feet. It was released in 1996.
'Golden Lights' - orange-yellow flowers of a good size and substance. Plants reach to 4-6 feet. This hybrid has the best mildew resistance of any Northern Lights azalea. It was developed in 1994.
'Northern Hi-Lights' - a lovely two-toned flower; pale creamy-yellow to white with a prominant yellow blotch. The flowers are medium sized and plants reach to 4-6 feet. This hybrid arose from the same breeding stock as ‘Golden Lights’ and was also developed in 1994.
'Spicy Lights' - pink flowers with orange overtones make this hybrid one of the loveliest of the series. Plants reach 5-6 feet. It was released in 1987.
'Apricot Surprise' - unusual in the series, this hybrid was not named 'Lights' as were the rest. Plants are compact (3-4 feet) with small, often doubled flowers of a distinct apricot-peach tone. This hybrid also has a delightful scent. It was released in 1984.
'Tri-Lights' - a newer hybrid developed in 2003. The flowers are white with deep pink edges and a yellow blotch. It is not quite as hardy as the others in the series but has one of the strongest fragrances. Grows 4-6 feet.
'Western Lights' - a very recent introduction, this is a tetraploid version of 'Orchid Lights'. Plants look the same except the flowers are larger with more substance.
‘Lilac Lights’ - a new hybrid developed in 2005 from ‘Orchid Lights’. It has better mildew resistance than its predecessor.
‘Candy Lights’ - another new 2005 release, this one has flowers in a blend of white and light pink. Plants reach 3-5 feet.
About Todd Boland
I reside in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. I work as a research horticulturist at the Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden. I am one of the founding members of the Newfoundland Wildflower Society and the current chair of the Newfoundland Rock Garden Society. My garden is quite small but I pack it tight! Outdoors I grow mostly alpines, bulbs and ericaceous shrubs. Indoors, my passion is orchids. When not in the garden, I'm out bird watching, a hobby that has gotten me to some lovely parts of the world.
Posted by Seandor (from Springfield, MA) on January 9, 2008 at 12:38 PM:
Thanks for a great article, Todd
...
Subject: Wow, I didnt know!
Posted by chris_lcf530 (from Peachtree City, GA) on January 9, 2008 at 8:22 AM:
Azaleas have come along way. Thanks for all the info. I will keep a eye out for the new varieties this spring.
In the past I have bought the ones called encore because they bloom many times. Do you know if these will bloom longer than usual or repeat?
Great Article!
chris
...
Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on January 9, 2008 at 9:47 AM:
Chris,
I think we more Northern folk have NO HOPE of a re-blooming azalea yet - I keep picking out which color I want, and then seeing that they're only hardy to z. 7., darn it!
Still, a girl can dream....... thanks, Todd, for lots of information, as usual. I want to rip out all my old azaleas (Fred, Bernie and Joe) and put in some smaller, greener ones whose names I know.
x, Carrie
...
Subject: Thanks, Todd
Posted by pirl (from Southold, NY) on January 9, 2008 at 8:02 AM:
Both interesting and informative. I have an Exbury in orange, an oldie, and would enjoy adding some of those you mentioned to our gardens.
We met Mary Majka a few years ago and she left one of those indelible marks on us with her zest for life.
...
Posted by bigcityal (from Menasha, WI) on January 9, 2008 at 9:44 AM:
Thanks for promoting the Northern Lights. They are a underutilized shrub here. I wish they were a bit faster growing though.
...
Posted by Wvdaisy (from Buffalo, WV) on January 9, 2008 at 3:01 PM:
Very informative article, saved it to my favs and will be adding some of these shrubs to my garden in the future. Thanks, Todd!
Lana
...
Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 9, 2008 at 6:42 PM:
Nice job, Todd. Do all in the list have similar fall color? Do you have any photos of it?
...
Posted by Todd_Boland (from St. John's, NL) on January 9, 2008 at 6:51 PM:
Most if not all have excellent fall colour (at least in my area they do!). Glad you are all enjoying the article!
...
Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 9, 2008 at 6:55 PM:
In what sun conditions are yours?
...
Posted by Wvdaisy (from Buffalo, WV) on January 9, 2008 at 7:11 PM:
I was also wondering about placement/sun conditions in my zone 7a garden.
...
Posted by bigcityal (from Menasha, WI) on January 9, 2008 at 7:20 PM:
I can dig out a fall color pic for you Victor.
...
Posted by Todd_Boland (from St. John's, NL) on January 9, 2008 at 7:38 PM:
I grow mine in full sun in zone 5b...zone 7 might be best in morning sun.
...
Posted by bigcityal (from Menasha, WI) on January 9, 2008 at 7:45 PM:
I didn't record which variety this one was, but it's a Northern Lights - October 20
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
...
Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 9, 2008 at 8:37 PM:
Thanks Al. Is that yours?
...
Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on January 9, 2008 at 8:42 PM:
Great article, Todd. Lots of info and pics to pine over. I'm Zone 5 so surely if you can grow them I can too. Now, where to start...
...
Posted by bigcityal (from Menasha, WI) on January 9, 2008 at 9:26 PM:
That's mine. I added Tri Lites last year for a new one.
...
Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on January 11, 2008 at 11:16 AM:
Todd, somehow I missed this. I'm glad I looked back thru and caught it. I've been looking at the Northern Lights series for a while because of the great colors. Nice to know they are hardy and grow well for others. Guess I should take the plunge.
thanks much for the great article
jan
...
Posted by Wvdaisy (from Buffalo, WV) on January 11, 2008 at 2:07 PM:
Thanks, Todd!
...
Posted by JanLynn (from South Milwaukee, WI) on May 6, 2008 at 5:32 PM:
