Azalea japonica 'ORANGE BEAUTY'

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 end April until June.

Orange Beauty is an old lady among Japanese azaleas (Kaempferi hybrid) - it was bred by C.B. van Nes & Sons from Dutch Boskoop already in 1912. It produces medium-sized flowers with elongated petals of soft salmon pink colour. They open in May for 2-3 weeks on the background of small, dark green, ovate to elliptic, and glossy leaves. The plant forms quite symmetrical, rounded, dense shrubs.

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. They are fully hardy to min. -25°C (USDA zone 5b-6), possibly a little more.

Last update 08-02-2019.