Azalea japonica 'LADY DARK'

Japanese azaleas are very popular features of our gardens. In their home climate they grow to relatively substantial shrubs, as opposed to limited sizes in our continental, dry climate. They are very floriferous, maintenance-free shrubs that usually bloom from mid to late spring.

Lady Dark is a new compact variety of evergreen - Japanese azalea. It makes profusion of purple violet flowers from mid May for about 2-3 weeks. They are single, open wide, and reveal delicate dotting on the upper petal. Leaves are small, narrowly elliptic, glossy, and usually reliably evergreen. It forms low, prostrate shrubs of nice and bushy habit so pruning is commonly not necessary. Flowers completely cover the plant when in bloom, and needn't be removed after flowering.

Japanese azaleas can be clipped to shapes in early June. If so, do not use fertilizers enhancing growth rate. The size of new branches would get out hand and spoil the shape you are going to achieve. They need light, permeable soil that is acid, constantly moist (keep azaleas mulched at all times) and moderately fertile. Use fertilizers for rhododendrons and azaleas, or ericaceous plants. The best soil mix is 1/3 of peat, 1/3 of leaf-mould or lime-free compost, and 1/3 of soil from the hole where you are going to plant it. Azaleas have shallow roots, so do not plant not too deep. Hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 30-01-2019