Azalea (Exbury), Gibraltar Rhododendron 'Gibraltar' Height: 6 feet Spread: 6 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 4b Group/Class: Exbury Hybrids Description: A stunning variety with bright orange and yellow blooms that cover airy open branches in mid spring; showy when massed in a border or as a garden accent; absolutely must have well-drained, highly acidic and organic soil Ornamental Features Azalea (Exbury), Gibraltar is covered in stunning clusters of lightly-scented orange trumpet-shaped flowers with a yellow blotch at the ends of the branches in mid spring before the leaves. It has green deciduous foliage. The narrow leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. Landscape Attributes Azalea (Exbury), Gibraltar is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage. This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics. Azalea (Exbury), Gibraltar is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Azalea (Exbury), Gibraltar will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
