Azalea 'JOSEPHINE KLINGER'

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.

Josephine Klinger is an old Ghent hybrid of deciduous azalea bred in Belgium around 1800. It produces medium-sized flowers where 4 lower petals are coral to salmon pink and the upper fifth petal is orange. Flowers usually open from mid May until early June and are strongly and sweetly fragrant. Deciduous leaves are mid green, oval to elliptic, fresh green in summer and orange, bronze, and red in autumn. It grows moderately into a dense and upright shrub.

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. -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 25-11-2020