• Azalea bushes add a delightful splash of color to your yard in the spring.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Azalea bushes have long been a favorite in landscapes and gardens, particularly when a homeowner needs an attractive bush in a shade location. There are thousands of azalea species to choose from, depending on the flower color, the climate and when you wish the bush to bloom. You also should decide if a deciduous or an evergreen azalea variety is the right bush for your landscape needs.
  
  

Deciduous

• Deciduous azaleas grown in the United States are considered to be native and are much hardier than evergreen varieties. There are deciduous azalea, like Sid's Royal Pink, that can be grown in climates that reach minus 45 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter. Deciduous azaleas have other benefits that the evergreen variety does not: they can grow in sunny locations and tolerate soil pH levels up to 7. The colors of the flowers of deciduous azaleas are warmer than those of evergreen azaleas, and can range from white to purple, pinks, reds, orange, yellow and many bicolor combinations. The leaves of deciduous azaleas will drop in the late fall, but they turn attractive colors of yellow, orange and red before dropping, adding a colorful display to your landscape.
  
  

Evergreen

• Evergreen azaleas are native to Asia, particularly Japan. They keep their shiny green leaves year around and need to grow in shaded or partially-shaded areas with a lower pH value. Not as hardy as deciduous azaleas, most evergreen azaleas can only tolerate winter temperatures between minus 5 to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Evergreen azaleas tend to be smaller bushes, ranging from 1 to 3 feet high and wide. Blossoms are available in white, shades of purple, pink and red, including interesting bicolor shades, but never yellow or orange.
  
  

Hybrids

• Both deciduous and evergreen azaleas have thousands of hybrid plants available. Not only do hybrids offer the homeowner more choices in size of bush and color of the blossoms, but also as to when your azalea will bloom. Historically, azaleas are considered to be a spring blooming bush, but hybrids, in both deciduous and evergreen varieties, have been developed that will bloom in early, mid or late summer.