Azalea japonica 'ANOUK'

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.

Anouk is an extraordinary variety of dwarf habit but with large flowers. It grows slowly into a ground-covering shriu with less conspicuous horizontal layers. The flowers are pink and rather wide, when in full bloom they look as if someone dropped a basket of freshly cut rhododendron flowers on green carpet. Small leaves are ovate or rounded, glossy, and dislike winter sunlight i zones 5 and 6.

Japanese azaleas need light, permeable soil that is acidic, constantly moist (keep azaleas mulched at all times) and moderately fertile. Use fertilizers for rhododendrons and azaleas, or ericaceous plants only. 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 them too deep. They are fully hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 15-02-2009