Descriptions with photos of species and varieties of azalea
All who witnessed blooming with their own eyes azaleas, knows that it is impossible to take your eyes off the amazing sight. Lush hats of snow-white, pink and purple, yellow and red shades amaze the imagination. Therefore, more and more flower growers are interested in the varieties and species of this perennial plant.
Of the six hundred wild species of azaleas and rhododendrons, only a few are grown in garden and pot culture.
And all the diversity and richness of colors is innumerable thousands of hybrids and varieties obtained from the crossing of evergreen and deciduous plants that live in America, Europe and Asia.
In home and garden conditions, representatives of two types can most often be found:
- Rhododendron Simsii or Indian azalea (A. indica);
- Rhododendron obtusum or Japanese azalea (A. Japonica).
But today other varieties of ornamental plants are actively used in breeding work. As a result, azaleas with an unusual shape of flowers or a color of corollas unprecedented in nature were obtained. Descriptions and photos of azaleas, their species and varieties will help you understand the diversity of the world of rhododendrons and find plants to your liking.
Japanese Azalea (Rhododendron obfusum)
In appearance and size of flowers, this type of azalea is inferior to many related varieties, but due to their abundant flowering and unpretentious disposition, it is grown in many countries. Today, gardeners have at their disposal several thousand luxurious varieties of Japanese azalea and its hybrids with other representatives of the vast genus.
After flowering at home, the Japanese azalea can successfully be in the garden until the very cold. As easily as fluctuations in temperature, plants simply endure pruning and shaping. Therefore, in the homeland of the species, in Japan, as well as in other parts of the world, the standard azalea has become popular, decorated in the form of traditional oriental bonsai or European trees in the style of a regular park.
Japanese azalea Melina
The variety of Japanese azalea "Melina" cannot be overlooked due to the bright carmine color of flowers with corollas up to 4–5.5 cm in diameter. The edges of the petals filling the entire volume of the flower are beautifully curved. Abundant flowering, almost completely hiding the bluish foliage. The plant is compact, at the age of 10 its height does not exceed 30 cm with a diameter of 50-60 cm.
Japanese Azalea Kermesina Alba
Like Melina, Kermesina Alba is an equally attractive white azalea. Its flowers are smaller in diameter, but due to their number, the branches seem to be completely covered with delicate fragrant snow.
Among the Japanese azaleas, there are many reliable, proven varieties. In addition, the species is actively used to obtain new, sometimes very original, interspecific hybrids.
Indian Azalea (Rhododendron simsii)
The varieties obtained through the use of the Indian azalea or Sims rhododendron have become the basis for the work of many breeders and amateur flower growers.
In room conditions, thanks to the restriction of the root system and regular pruning, these shrubs, like the Japanese azalea, are compact and small. Usually they can be kept within 40-60 cm. But in the garden, azalea indica reaches a height of one and a half meters and more.Moreover, there are plants with different flowering periods, shapes, colors and sizes of corollas.
Compared to the Japanese variety, the Indian azalea has larger and more decorative flowers.
Variegated varieties with contrasting markings in the center of the rim or an original border along its edge are not uncommon. An example of this type of azalea is the Stella Maris plant with snow-white flowers decorated with crimson splashes on the upper petals.
Azalea flowers are double or simple, with corrugated or smooth edges.
Azalea of the Albert-Elizabeth variety stands out for its large, up to 8.5 cm in diameter, double flowers with a wide carmine border and wavy edges of the petals. Plants begin to bloom very early, practically opening the azalea season in the home and garden.
Despite the abundance of azalea indica varieties, flowers of yellow or orange color are extremely rare among them, and plants with blue and purple corollas are completely absent.
Azaleas Knap Hill
Knap Hill Hybrid, a vast group of hybrid plants, emerged from the crossing of several wild species of azaleas, among which there was a Japanese variety, as well as plants derived from America.
The breeding work, which gave the world of flower growers many luxurious plants, began in the 19th century in the legendary British Knap Hill Nursery. He gave the name to the azalea mixes received by E. Vatarer.
Some of the seedlings of the new hybrids were acquired by the famous billionaire collector and florist Lionel Rothschild. The plants were transported to Hampshire and here, at the estate of Baron Exbury, work on the development of unprecedented varieties of azaleas continued. As a result, the world received flowers of amazing brightness, not only in traditional white-pink tones, but also in yellow shades.
On the site of the old estate, a luxurious garden with bushes of deciduous azaleas one and a half meters in height has still been preserved. Flowers have different colors and sizes, some specimens even strike with 10-centimeter corollas.
Many Knap Hill azaleas emit a subtle aroma, and most easily tolerate temperatures up to 23 ° C and even up to 30 ° C.
Unfortunately, it was not possible to save all the hybrid azaleas from the old English group. Many have been irretrievably lost, but the remaining plants have become the basis for modern breeding work.
Azalea Golden Eagle (Rhododendron Golden Eagle)
Winter-hardy deciduous azalea, obtained from crossing Rhododendron calendulaceum and reaching a height of 1.8 meters in adulthood. A plant with a wide rounded crown perfectly acclimatizes in the middle zone and annually pleases the gardener with the appearance of a mass of yellow-orange semi-double flowers up to 6 cm in diameter. The flowers of this azalea variety form inflorescences of 6-12 pieces and do not fall from 3 to 9 weeks.
Azalea Knap Hill Sylphides
This deciduous azalea also belongs to the Knap Hill Hybrid family and is considered one of the most hardy in the world. Plants withstand frosts down to –32 ° C and in spring they reveal 8–14 large funnel-shaped flowers on each shoot. The background color of the corollas is white-pink, in the middle there is a bright yellow spot. This azalea variety does not have a pronounced aroma. Mass flowering occurs in May and June. An adult bush has a dense spherical crown up to 120 cm high.
Azalea deciduous Jolie Madame
Jolie Madame, tall compared to the azalea varieties described above, survives frosty winters just as well, but by the age of 10 it can grow up to 3 meters in height. The flowers of this deciduous azalea are large, simple, bright pink in color. In the center there is a barely discernible orange-yellow spot. The peak of flowering occurs in June, when 7-9 flowers open on the shoots.
Azalea Knap Hill Schneegold
A spectacular deciduous azalea obtained from crossing the yellow rhododendron varieties Saint Ruan and Cecile. The plant in gardens is limited in growth. As a result of pruning, a crown is formed with a height and width of about one and a half meters, but without control, the azalea can grow up to 2 meters in height.
The flowers are large with wavy white petals along the edge.But it is impossible to call a white azalea, since the top of the corolla is decorated with a yellow spot, and the edges have a pink blush below. Flowering occurs in May and June.
Azalea Knap Hill Czardash
Derived from the yellow rhododendron, this hybrid variety also belongs to the Knap Hill azalea group. The flowering of the variety begins in May, when the meter-high bush is covered, as in the photo of azaleas, with yellow-cream double flowers. Fragrance spreads around the plants. The difference between this azalea variety is the love of sunlight. The plant grows well and blooms precisely on the sunny side; in the shade, the brightness and size of the corollas are noticeably reduced.
Azalea Knap Hill (Rhododendron yellow) Satan
One of the brightest varieties of azaleas from the English group is called "Satan" and stands out with scarlet simple flowers with a yellowish glow inside the corolla. The height of a light-loving erect plant reaches 180 cm. When planting, it is recommended to choose well-lit places with loose, drained soil. The peak of flowering of this azalea, as in the photo, falls on the last decade of May and throughout June.
Hybrid azalea "Slavka" (Knap Hill group)
The flowers of this azalea variety have not only a pure white color, but also an amazing double structure, as if one corolla is inserted into another. The graceful white azalea will decorate any garden and can be used both in single and in group plantings. The height of the bush is small, only 1–1.4 meters, the crown is spherical, compact.
Azalea Golden Lights (Rhododendron Golden Lights)
A spectacular plant with bright lush flowering and extraordinary frost resistance will not be lost in any garden or greenhouse. It is a deciduous azalea bred by American breeders at the University of Minnesota. The Golden Lights azalea hybrid belongs to the American group Northern Lights. An adult bush reaches a height of 150 cm and from May to June it is magnificently decorated with golden yellow flowers 7 cm in diameter. For a plant, as in the photo of an azalea, shaded, quiet places with abundant watering and an acidic substrate rich in humus are preferred.
Azalea hybrid Azurro
The huge flowers of the Azzurro hybrid appear from the end of May and last until mid-June. The bushes of deciduous azalea up to 1.5 meters high are strewn with thousands of flowers of a juicy purple-blackberry color with crimson splashes inside the corolla.
Azalea deciduous Koichiro Wada
Azalea of the yakushimanum species belongs to the Asian plant species. The variety "Koichiro Vada" stands out among the relatives with a bright pink color of the buds, which turns pale when the corollas are fully opened. Gradually, the cupped flowers turn completely white. The leaves are dark green, leathery, dense, but they are almost invisible due to the mass of azalea flowers, as in the photo, covering the crown until mid-June. An ornamental shrub grows up to 140 cm in height and 220 cm in width, it is very hardy and picky when grown in the garden.