A FEW AZALEAS

: John; Blog Post; 26 February 2018; Hits: 6217; Rating:

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Spring is upon us in the Heart of Dixie and some of the azaleas that I have been growing as bonsai have started blooming. This is my favorite time of the year, I wish the flowers would last longer. You can extend it a little by growing different types of azaleas so that they don't all bloom at once. I have satsukis, kurumes, indicas, and a bunch of unknowns. This is what is showing this week:

First we have an unknown. I have researched and there are several like it - Candy Stripe, Dogwood, and lately I have seen another that seems more likely, one called Nancy Marie. I think this is it. Nancy Marie is "greenhouse" azalea that is grown for forcing bloom and for sale in grocery stores and florists on special occasions. It is not very cold hardy and I have to bring it in when we have a cold snap.

Azalea, Nancy Marie, Front

Left

Back

Right

Next, we have an Indica, called Glacier White. These are the largest azaleas around, it is not uncommon to see bushes that are 8' tall and just as wide, here in the South, growing in the landscape. They are not often thought of as decent bonsai material because of their large leaves, large flowers, and explosive upright growth but I have found that they respond well to bonsai culture. The leaves reduce well, up to 1/4 of full size, and the flowers reduce some, too, not much, but some. The growth is managable, but you have to stay on top of it.

Azalea, Glacier White, Front

Left

Back

Right

Last we have a couple of kurume azaleas, one is a Hino Crimson and the other is Hinode Giri, I don't know which is which, I got them mixed up years ago. The flowers are very similar so I guess it doesn't really matter. These are not as far along in blooming as the first two, later this week they should be full, look for an update.