Azalea japonica 'DIAMANT ROT' Japanese azalea

Japanese azaleas are very popular features of our gardens. Diamant series comes from Germany and consists of a few varieties bred by Carl Fleischmann in 1969. All of them manifest a very compact and dense growth, and profusion of flowers every year. Diamant Rot is rich purple red but not warm red like for instance Maruschka. The flowers come out from mid May until early June. The leaves are deep green, small, ovate, very glossy, and reliably evergreen. The plant forms a neat cushion when young, and makes almost tiered horizontal layers with age. You can use for bonsai making.

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. It is hardy to about -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 01-04-2013