Azalea x 'CONVERSATION PIECE'

These hybrid azaleas come from New Jersey, USA, and were developed by Robert Gartrell. The aim was to select and further breed cultivars with the best performance, extending their flowering period and keeping majority of leaves in winter months.

Conversation Piece is definitely something to talk about. This azalea has extremely large flowers of two colours: light pink and white. The varigation differs from plant to plant, some blooms may be just pink, others mottled white or be entirely white with pink stripes and so on. It flowers later in the azalea season – from end May until mid June.

Slightly glossy leaves are mid green, ovate, small. In semi-shade and shade they are evergreen, but still less sensitive to sun than other Japanese azaleas.

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 them too deep. Experienced hardiness is -24°C (USDA zone 6), perhaps they can take a few degrees less.

Last update 19-01-2008.