Azalea japonica 'ROSEBUD'

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.

Rosebud is an old variety of Kurume Japanese azalea bred an introduced by J.J.Chisholm in 1934. It bears unique, double flowers of soft pink colour. They look like those on Indian azaleas but are very hardy and bloom from mid May until early June. Evergreen leaves are small, elliptic, and glossy. Rosebud forms slightly irregular shrubs which benefit from pruning after flowering in order to achieve a nice shape and dense habit. The name Rosebud is chosen aptly for the similarity to a just opening rose bud. Many decades later other breeders came up with their own azalea varieties having the same flower shape e.g. White Rosebud, Scotian Rosebud or Baby Rosebud.

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 them too deep. Hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 29-01-2019