Azaleas

The 'Lights' series of azaleas brings the colors of the tropics to Minnesota's early spring landscape. The plants are world-renowned for varied colors and incredible flower bud hardiness - an achievement that initially took two decades. Although nearly commonplace in zone 4 landscapes today, the range of colors and flower forms in the 'Lights' azaleas were unknown even as recently as the mid-'80s when some of the richer yellow, orange, and multihued cultivars began to find their way into the landscape. 

University of Minnesota Azalea Varieties

Apricot Surprise

  • Light orange
  • Fragrant flowers and late flowering
  • 3-4' plant size
  • Released in 1987

Candy lights azalea. Flowers are pink in color

Candy Lights™

  • Light pink
  • Pale yellow streaks, very fragrant
  • 5-6' plant size
  • Released in 2001

 


Electric lights azaleas. Flowers are pink in color

Electric Lights™ Double Pink

  • Light pink
  • Double flowering and blooms for 7 weeks
  • Buds hardy to -30°F
  • 6' plant size
  • Released in& 2015

Electric lights azaleas. Flowers are bright red in color

Electric Lights™ Red

  • Fiery red
  • Blooms early and compact with shiny foliage
  • Buds hardy to -30°F
  • 4' plant size
  • Released in 2015

Golden lights azaleas. Flowers are gold in color

Golden Lights

  • Golden
  • Fragrant with greater mildew resistance
  • 4-6' plant size
  • Released in 1986

Lemon lights azaleas. Flowers are yellow in color

Lemon Lights

  • Lemon yellow
  • Narrower, upright plant
  • 4-5' plant size
  • Released in 1996

Lilac lights azaleas. Flowers are lilac in color

Lilac Lights™

  • Pinkish purple
  • Darker speckles on upper lobes
  • 3.5-5' plant size
  • Released in 2001

Mandarin lights azaleas. Flowers are orange in color

Mandarin Lights

  • Orange
  • Extremely hardy
  • 5-6.5' plant size
  • Released in 1992

Northern hi-lights azaleas. Flowers are white in color with a yellow center

Northern Hi-Lights

  • Creamy white
  • Bright yellow upper petal
  • 5-6' plant size
  • Released in 1994

Northern lights azaleas. Flowers are pink in color

Northern Lights

  • Pink
  • Fragrant flowers, various shades of pink
  • 4-7' plant size
  • Released in 1978

Orchid lights azaleas. Flowers are bright pink in color

Orchid Lights

  • Orchid
  • Earliest flowering of the 'Lights.'
  • Extremely hardy, compact plant.
  • 2-3' plant size
  • Released in 1986

Rosy lights azaleas. Flowers are pink in color.

Rosy Lights

  • Deep rosy pink
  • Abundant blossoms
  • Buds hardy to -45°F
  • 4-5' plant size
  • Released in 1984

Spicy lights azaleas. Flowers are peach in color

Spicy Lights

  • Salmon pink
  • Large flowers and early flowering
  • 5-6.5' plant size
  • Released in 1987

Tri lights azaleas. Flowers are light pink in color

Tri Lights™

  • Soft pink
  • Deep rose buds with yellow upper petal highlight.
  • 5' plant size
  • Released in 2000

White lights azaleas. Flowers are white in color

White Lights

  • White
  • Abundant blossoms, with slight yellow highlight
  • 5-6' plant size
  • Released in 1984

 


Candy Lights™, Electric Lights™, Lilac Lights™ and Tri Lights™ are trademarks of the University of Minnesota.

Meet the researcher

Stan Hokanson

Stan Hokanson is a Professor in the CFANS Department of Horticultural Science.