Probably not - standards are usually grafted onto the top of the stem. Examine it closely, there should be a knobbly bit where its grafted on the stem at the base of the azalea. If you cut back beyond that, there'll be no azalea.

I just posted a photo of my azalea after doing just that. You don't want to chop it completely down to the ground, but leave a stump about a foot high. Keep the roots moist and cool. A new top will grow from the stump. See my photo http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/305375-azalea/all

Bathgate, are the azalea growth and flowers you're getting since chopping it back the same as the one that was originally at the top of the bare stem? Or do you mean you've just chopped back an ordinary azalea, not a standard one? I've looked at your pic but can't tell whether it was originally a standard or just an ordinary bush.

Usually, rhododendrons and azaleas sold as as standards are grafted at the top onto a bare stem with a vigorous azalea/rhododendron rootstock that is different from the grafted plant at the top. If you cut past the graft, all you've got left is the rootstock and its stem...

I really don't know what kind of azalea. It was here from the previous owners. The top was a tangled mess of winding twigs that never flowered and hardly any leaves - from years of haphazard pruning. I cut it all off, leaving just a 2 foot stump and left it alone to grow naturally. I never checked to see if it was a graft or not, but it's the same bush as it was before the pruning - just full of flowers and lush green leaves.

Mine is planted in the ground - they just do better then those planted in pots. The roots go down deep, staying cool and moist. Pots tend to dry out, overheat and have limited nutrients - all bad for azaleas.

Ah, well, the questioner wants to know about an azalea standard rather than another growth form.

"Standard Azalea" has different meanings to us. I digress.

And that is exactly what I was wondering - 'standard' and 'half standard' have specific meanings in the horticultural world, although its common for non gardeners in UK to not know that too, thinking 'standard' just means 'ordinary' or 'normal'.

You have very good points. I'm by no means an expert but I wouldn't consider an azalea on a stick as standard. To me, it's exotic or formal.

'Standard' refers to the length of the bare stem coming off the rootstock, with the plant grafted on top. 'Half standard' just means a bare stem off the rootstock, but half the height. It comes from the word flag or standard, where you'd have a long stick or pole with a flag on top... no idea whether its used in horticultural terms in the States or not.

You taught me something today. Thanks

Good - let's hope Jd2347 wasn't too bored by it all;-))

I think he should get a new bush. They aren't expensive and so many to choose from. Get two!