Choosing the best evergreen azaleas
Eight evergreen azaleas have been recommended for the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit following an expert RHS Roundtable review
Evergreen azaleas (from the Rhododendron genus) are valued for their compact habit, seasonal colour and suitability for smaller gardens and containers. With a vast range available, choosing the best plants can be challenging. To provide clear and practical guidance, the RHS Woody Expert Group brought together a Roundtable to review existing RHS Recommended: AGM evergreen azaleas and assess whether the list reflects the strongest selections available today.
Why evergreen azaleas matter
Small azaleas blooming in terracotta pots ready for a beautiful outside display
The review recognised the important role evergreen azaleas play in gardens of all sizes. Many are well-suited to small spaces, while others perform reliably in containers. The group also focused on identifying plants that are resilient to weather extremes and dependable when pruned, qualities that are increasingly important for gardeners.
Evergreen azaleas are one of the most popular groups of shrubs available, but the RHS Recommended: AGMs have not been reviewed since 2012, so it’s been good to review both new and old varieties to ensure that the list is up to date, and reflects the best plants available for gardeners.
Alongside performance, the Roundtable aimed to address confusion in the trade, where a wide and sometimes bewildering range of plants is offered, not all of equal garden value.
Expert assessment
Organised by the RHS Woody Expert Group and chaired by David Millais, the Roundtable brought together experienced growers, nursery specialists and RHS Advisers. Judges reviewed a list of existing RHS Recommended: AGM and widely grown evergreen azaleas compiled from RHS Plant Finder data.
All award‑holders considered had at least one listed source, so availability remained a key part of the process. Plants were assessed individually ahead of a final discussion, ensuring a balanced and informed outcome.
Selections were judged against the RHS Recommended: AGM criteria, including:
- Healthy, with good overall growth and appearance
- Excellent performers, resilient in the right conditions
- Available to buy in garden centres or online
- Reasonably resistant to common pests and diseases
- True to type, keeping a consistent colour and form
Judges also highlighted plants with particularly good autumn colour or later flowering times. Late‑season evergreen azaleas can extend interest well beyond the main rhododendron display, but are often overlooked.
Results from the Roundtable
Following assessment and discussion, eight evergreen azaleas were recommended for the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit. These selections represent reliable, garden‑worthy choices that perform consistently across a range of conditions.
Rhododendron (Obtusum Group) ‘Amoenum’ (EA/d)
Roundtable comments: Sensational. Old selection. Unusually small, hose-in-hose pinky purple flowers, floriferous. Good plant. Great en masse too.
- Height: Tall, spreading
- Flowering time: Early to mid-season
- Find more about the plant
Rhododendron ‘Chipmunk’ (EA/d)
Roundtable comments: Can take the cold weather. Large hose-in-hose pink flowers. Small foliage.
- Height: Low
- Flowering time: Late season
- Find more about the plant
Rhododendron ‘Hatsu-giri’ (EA)
Roundtable comments: Small purple flowers, superb. Floriferous. Reliable. Compact.
- Height: Low/medium
- Flowering time: Early to mid-season
- Find more about the plant
Rhododendron ‘Kermesinum’ (EA)
Roundtable comments: Flowers purple-pink, fading paler. Floriferous. Good contrasting stamens. Neat-growing, compact. Good for a container.
- Height: Low
- Flowering time: Mid to late-season
- Find more about the plant
Rhododendron ‘Kirin’ (Kurume) (EA/d)
Roundtable comments: Has stood the test of time with one of the longest flowering seasons. Hose-in-hose pink flowers. Reliable. Good in a pot and in the garden.
- Height: Low/medium
- Flowering time: Early season
- Find more about the plant
Rhododendron ‘Lemur’ (EA)
Roundtable comments: Good, deep pink flowers. Excellent habit and foliage.
- Height: Low spreading
- Flowering time: Mid to late-season
- Find more about the plant
Rhododendron ‘Magic Flute’ (EA)
Roundtable comments: Very different. Resilient. Enchanting, vibrant double purple flowers. Holds flowers for a long time. Red flute on the outside of the corolla. Loses some foliage in winter.
- Height: Low
- Flowering time: Mid-season
- Find more about the plant
Rhododendron MAISCHNEE (‘Hachmai’) (EA)
Roundtable comments: Stunning. Only recently available. Hardy. Flowers are white with a yellow-green flare. Floriferous. Neat-growing.
- Height: Medium
- Flowering time: Mid-season
- Find more about the plant
Judges also proposed a number of additional selections, such as Rhododendron ‘Andy Wery’ and Rhododendron ‘Leo’, that were less well known to the wider group. Although these did not meet the balance required to award the RHS Recommended: AGM at this stage, they were considered worthy of further attention. A future trial of these plants across different climates was identified as a valuable next step and will be taken forward by the RHS Woody Expert Group.
A reliable guide for gardeners
This review ensures the RHS Recommended: AGM continues to reflect plants that meet the needs of today’s gardeners. By highlighting dependable, well‑performing evergreen azaleas, the Roundtable provides clear guidance to help gardeners choose with confidence, whether planting in borders or containers.
