{"product_id":"candy-lights-azalea","title":"Candy Lights Azalea","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Hardy U of M Azalea in Soft, Sweet Pink\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCandy Lights Azalea (\u003cem\u003eRhododendron\u003c\/em\u003e 'Candy Lights') brings soft, sweet pink to the cold-climate spring garden — part of the University of Minnesota Northern Lights series bred to make azaleas thrive in zone 3. Clusters of lightly fragrant pink flowers cover the shrub in late spring before the foliage fully expands, with good fall color to follow. A pretty, dependable deciduous azalea built for Minnesota, ideal for part-shade borders in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCandy Lights Azalea Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRhododendron 'Candy Lights' (Northern Lights series, U of M)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 ft. tall, 4–5 ft. wide\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness Zone\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy; bred by the U of M for cold climates)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade (afternoon shade ideal)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLate spring\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Color\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft pink, lightly fragrant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAcidic, moist, well-drained, humus-rich — amend Minnesota clay with peat and compost\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExceptionally hardy to zone 3 — bred for the Upper Midwest\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMay be browsed — protect young plants where deer pressure is high\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLandscape Uses in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoft spring color:\u003c\/strong\u003e The gentle pink blooms suit cottage and woodland-edge plantings in part shade. Space 4–5 feet apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator and woodland gardens:\u003c\/strong\u003e The flowers feed early pollinators. Pair with rhododendrons, ferns, and hostas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September) into acidic, well-drained soil. Keep moist through establishment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Candy Lights Azalea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAzaleas need acidic, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Dig a wide hole and amend heavily with peat moss and compost; never plant in heavy, alkaline clay without amending. Set the crown slightly high (shallow-rooted), backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches with shredded bark or pine needles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Candy Lights Azalea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst year:\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep evenly moist — water every 2–3 days; shallow roots dry out fast. Ensure it goes into winter well-watered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfter year one:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maintain consistent moisture; it dislikes drying out or baking in hot sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Can azaleas survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Northern Lights series can — bred by the University of Minnesota for cold climates and hardy to zone 3.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Why does soil matter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAzaleas need acidic, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Amend Minnesota's heavier soil with peat and compost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is it fragrant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes — the pink spring flowers carry a light fragrance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is it deer-resistant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot reliably — deer may browse azaleas, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRosy Lights Azalea (Rhododendron):\u003c\/strong\u003e A deeper rose-pink Northern Lights azalea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNorthern Hi-Lights Azalea (Rhododendron):\u003c\/strong\u003e A creamy-white, mildew-resistant azalea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHaaga Rhododendron (Rhododendron):\u003c\/strong\u003e An ultra-hardy evergreen rhododendron.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Candy Lights Azalea Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a woodland-edge or border run, space plants 4–5 ft apart (the body's own spacing; mature width 4–5 ft). A group of 3 makes the classic spring-color statement — plant the trio in a loose triangle, 4–5 ft on a side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBorder Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed (4–5 ft spacing)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–7 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–9 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCandy Lights Azalea Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e The headline act — clusters of lightly fragrant soft-pink trumpets smother the bare branches in late spring, just before the leaves fully expand, feeding early pollinators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clean green foliage forms a tidy 4–5 ft mound; keep the shallow roots evenly moist and mulched.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaves turn warm shades before dropping — a quiet second season of color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully dormant and bombproof to zone 3 — the U of M breeding means flower buds survive winters that kill ordinary azaleas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Shade-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/rosy-lights-azalea\"\u003eRosy Lights Azalea\u003c\/a\u003e — deeper rose-pink sibling; stagger the two for a layered pink display.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/northern-hi-lights-azalea\"\u003eNorthern Hi-Lights Azalea\u003c\/a\u003e — creamy white-and-gold blooms that cool down the pinks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/lemon-lights-azalea\"\u003eLemon Lights Azalea\u003c\/a\u003e — clear lemon-yellow for a full Northern Lights color run.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-shadow-fothergilla\"\u003eBlue Shadow Fothergilla\u003c\/a\u003e — acid-loving companion with blue summer foliage and blazing fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Candy Lights Azalea Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCandy Lights is right for you if you have a part-shade border or woodland edge with acidic, well-drained soil (or you're willing to amend with peat and compost) and you want fragrant spring color that's truly zone-3 hardy. It's not a fit for unamended alkaline clay, hot dry exposures, or high-deer yards without protection — shallow roots hate drying out, and deer will browse azaleas.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54313034973489,"sku":null,"price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/candy-lights-azalea.jpg?v=1779727888","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/candy-lights-azalea","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}