Dear traynham 7b,
A mass planting of 'George Lindley Taber' azaleas should be suitable to a partially shaded site in Zone 7b. With a few hours of sunlight, 'George Lindley Taber' should perform well for you. As you probably already know, 'George Lindley Taber' is one of the more cold-tolerant Southern Indian azaleas and is, therefore, generally reliable in Zone 7b. We have a planting of 'George Lindley Taber' and 'Mrs. G. G. Gerbing' azaleas in oue front yard in Zone 8a, formerly Zone 7b. Like 'George Lindley Taber,' 'Mrs. G. G. Gerbing' is a cold-tolerant Southern Indian azalea--a lovely white. The white and light lavender azaleas make a pretty combination. This year, they bloomed beautifully for us in early April. Our planting is in oak shade and receives a few hours of mid-morning sun. From experience, I recommend 'George Lindley Taber' for garden use in Zones 7b and higher.