Find Your Ask the Plant Expert: Where can you plant azaleas?
Do azaleas need full sun when planted outdoors? John
Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
John,
According to the Azalea Society of America, azaleas should be planted in partial shade. In fact, most people claim that azaleas do best with morning sun and afternoon shade. However, it really depends on the type of azalea and where you live. Most azaleas will take sun to partial shade exposure.
For example, I have an azalea called Sunglow that gets hot afternoon sun. These azaleas bloom beautifully every year and their dark rich foliage is always attractive. The deciduous azalea (Admiral Semmes) that I have in my perennial garden gets sun all day long and does very well. My neighbors have ‘Herbert’ Azaleas in a morning sun only exposure and they do fine.
The garden center where you purchased the azalea should know which exposure it will do best in your area.
The greater concern would be the soil type that you are planting the azalea in. Be sure to plant it in loose, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH.
Hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if I can help with anything else.
I have 2 Rhododendrons that get morning shade and after noon sun. I planted one last year one this year, how to I shade them from the sun and at the same time give them morning sun and shade in the afternoon.
Robert,
It is hard to artificially create the condition you need. I would move them to a locate that is more suitable.