Azalea 'BLAUES WUNDER'

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. Unlike many rhododendrons they need full sun. In fact, all azaleas are correctly named rhododendrons in scientific names. But the historical split between rhododendrons and azaleas is so established that it makes no sense changing it now. Many of them are crossbred with r. luteum with pure yellow and very fragrant flowers. There is a number of varieties grouped under the name Ghent Azaleas developed by P. Mortier from Ghent who originally was not a horticulturist but a baker. He was the first to crossbreed European r. luteum and North American species in early 1820’s and until 1850 he introduced many fantastic varieties with colourful, fragrant, and somewhat smaller flowers. He was followed by Anthony Waterer from England who used Ghent hybrids as well as Asian species and gave birth to a large-flowered group named Knap Hill Azaleas after the nursery where he worked. Around 1920 he had a successor Lionel de Rotschild from Exbury Estate in Southampton, England, who continued crossbreeding Waterer’s azaleas and developed a series later called Exbury Azaleas.

Deciduous azaleas with blue tinted foliage originated in Denmark after 1950’s. Blaues Wunder is one of them. Its leaves are truly fantastic: rich maroon with blue blueberry hues as they emerge, matte, narrowly elongated and deciduous. They mature to bright green in summer and turn yellow, orange, and red in autumn. In the first decade of May appear vivid yellow, sweetly fragrant, star-shaped flowers with narrow petals. The plant grows into well-branched, upright shrub about one meter tall and wide when 10 years old.

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. -34 °C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 10-01-2024