Azalea 'Northern Hi-Lights'

NL Hi Lights Exbury Azalea

Azalea ‘Northern Hi-Lights’ is a luminous deciduous azalea from the Northern Lights series, prized for its creamy white flowers with a soft yellow upper blotch and exceptional cold hardiness. Blooming in mid to late spring, the fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers appear in showy clusters and glow in shaded landscapes. In fall, foliage turns attractive burgundy to red, extending seasonal interest.

The shrub forms a rounded, upright habit with good density and strong garden presence. As a deciduous azalea, it tolerates more sun than evergreen types and excels in northern climates.

Key features


Width: 4–6 ft



Height: 4–6 ft



Flower color: Creamy white with yellow blotch



Bloom time: Mid to late spring



Foliage: Green; deciduous with burgundy-red fall color



Form: Rounded, upright shrub



Life cycle: Deciduous shrub



Growing conditions


Sun: Full sun to part shade (best flowering with morning sun)



Soil: Acidic, moist, well-drained; rich in organic matter



Water: Moderate; consistent moisture preferred



Hardiness: USDA Zones 4a–7b



Landscape use


Specimen shrub



Mixed shrub borders



Woodland and naturalized gardens



Cold-climate foundation plantings



Notes


Part of the Northern Lights series, bred for extreme cold tolerance



Fragrant flowers attract pollinators



Mulch to conserve moisture and protect roots



Prune immediately after flowering if shaping is needed

Plant type

Deciduous Shrub, Flowering Shrub

Height

10'

Width

6'

Hardiness zones

4–8

Sunlight

Partial Shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Late Spring, Spring

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Yellow

Attracts

Butterflies

Soil

Loamy well-drained, Sandy well-drained

Landscape use

Container, Mass Planting

Shape

Broad Upright

Bark

Smooth

Fragrant

Yes

Deer resistant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No