Azalea 'JACK A. SAND' deciduous azalea
Azalea
Deciduous azaleas are probably the most striking flowering shrubs. Their colours are vivid and bright, and often have the shades that not many rhododendrons can offer. They need full sun.Jack A. Sand is a very fragrant deciduous azalea from 1980. It was bred by D. Wood and E. Sand as a cross between Homebush and Cecile, i.e. the same parents as for the orange variety Gena Mae, but with an entirely different result. Here, the flowers make deep salmon pink buds which open to semi-double (hose-in-hose) flowers with light purple outer petals and pale pink to almost white inner sepals. The upper petal is decorated with a golden blotch. One truss holds 12-18 sweetly fragrant flowers which open from about mid-May. Deciduous leaves are narrowly elliptic, glossy, light to medium green and turn maroon in autumn. Young foliage is bronze tinged in spring. Jack A. Sand azalea grows slowly into a nicely shaped shrub with more width than height.
Deciduous azaleas are ericaceous plants, loving insulate position with always moist soil. During temporary summer dry spells in certain areas their leaves may suffer and be prone to fungus infections. When spots appear on the leaves or they lose colour and start to curl use a suitable fungicide immediately. 1-2 sprays should help the plant remain beautiful and healthy.
They require no pruning. Should you need to shape or rejuvenate your plant do so as early in the spring as possible so that it can still make new twigs with flower buds for the next season. It re-sprouts reliably. It has many surface roots which spread to sides in search for nutrients and water. The best soil mixture consists of peat, lime-free compost and leaf-mould. Fully hardy to min. -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
Last update 01-04-2024
