Azalea japonica 'LITTLE RED'

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.

Little Red is another compact Japanese azalea variety. It might be compared to perhaps Marushka unlike which Little Red is more upright, yet slow growing; or to Allotria variety which tends to grow larger and a little leggy while Little Red is very compact and dense. One thing – the RED in its name is a bit of an overstatement because the flowers are rather rich pink than warm red. They are about 3-4 cm wide, single, and come out in profusion usually from mid May for 2-3 weeks. Evergreen leaves are 2-3 cm long, oval, fresh to mid green, glossy, and do not turn so deep purple red in winter like the leaves of Marushka or other red-flowering azaleas. The shrub grows slowly to 50-60 cm tall and a little over one meter in maturity.

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 not too deep. Hardy to about -25°C (USDA zone 6).

Last update 08-01-2020