Azalea japonica 'RED PETTICOAT'

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 end April until June.

Red Petticoat is an evergreen Japanese azalea from H. Hachmann nursery in Germany and follows the success of pink flowering Petticoat azalea introduced in 1988. Red Petticoat boasts a highly desirable warm red colour on large, semi-double flowers which open in mid May for about two weeks. Leaves are reliably evergreen, small, narrowly elliptic, slightly glossy, and dark green. The plant grows moderately into a compact, rounded shrub about 50 cm tall and wide in 10 years. It copes well with full sun, too.

Azaleas usually need no pruning but can be clipped to shapes from June to early July immediately after flowering. 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. If can be placed in full sun if grown in excellent soil with equal moisture throughout the season. They need light, permeable soil that is acid, constantly moist (keep azaleas always mulched) 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 refined soil from the hole where you are going to plant it. Azaleas have shallow roots, so do not plant them too deep. If leaves turn yellow or fall down after winter it is planted in wet or heavy soil. Hardy to about -27 °C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 08-01-2024