Azalea japonica 'TORNELLA'

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.

Tornella is a compact variety of Japanese azalea from Italy. It makes 3 cm wide, semi-double flowers of rich pink to purple pink colour. They come out in profusion usually from mid May for 2-3 weeks. Evergreen leaves are 2-3 cm long, oval, dark green, glossy, and turn deep purple red in winter. The shrub is dense and grows slowly some 40 cm tall but twice as wide.

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