Azalea indica Mardi Gras

Common Name:
Azalea ‘Mardi Gras’

Description:
Azalea ‘Mardi Gras’ is a spectacular evergreen azalea admired for its striking bi-colour blooms featuring crisp white petals dramatically splashed with vivid crimson-pink and scarlet-red markings. Flowering prolifically from late winter through to spring, the vibrant open flowers create a bold and festive display against the dense, glossy dark green foliage. Each bloom displays unique marbling and feathered colour patterns, giving the plant exceptional visual interest and garden impact. Compact and neatly rounded in habit, ‘Mardi Gras’ is ideal for decorative pots, borders, low hedging, and woodland-style gardens where eye-catching seasonal colour is desired. Well-suited to Melbourne’s temperate climate, it thrives in part shade but can also tolerate more sun in cooler conditions with adequate moisture. It performs best in moist, well-drained, acidic soil enriched with organic matter. This variety is highly valued for its dramatic flower colouring, evergreen structure, and reliable flowering performance during the cooler months.

Form:

• Shrub - Small

Mature Size:

• Height: 0.8–1.2 m
• Width: 1–1.5 m

Aspect:

• Full Sun
• Part Shade

Flowering:

• Flowers in Winter
• Flowers in Spring

Flower Colour:

• White
• Crimson pink
• Scarlet red
• Pink and white bi-colour

Key Attributes:

• Bee Attracting
• Bird Attracting
• Evergreen
• Perennial
• Suitable for Borders
• Suitable for Hedging
• Suitable for Pots
• Sun tolerant
• Woodland garden plant

Toxicity:
Toxic if ingested. All parts of azaleas contain grayanotoxins and are poisonous to humans, dogs, cats, horses, and livestock. Consumption may cause vomiting, drooling, weakness, and more serious symptoms if large quantities are eaten.

Companion Plants:

• Camellia
• Clivia
• Daphne
• Ferns
• Gardenia
• Hellebore
• Hydrangea
• Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
• Pieris japonica
• Rhododendron