Azalea japonica 'ELSIE LEE' Japanese azalea
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
0,6-1m
usual width
0,6-1m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
May-June
location
full to partial sun
USDA zone (lowest)
5b (down to -27°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
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 mid to late spring.
Description of the plant:
Elsie Lee is a fantastic Japanese azalea variety bred already in 1960. It produces large, 5-7 cm across, double flowers of pastel pink colour. They come out in profusion usually from mid May for 2-3 weeks. Evergreen leaves are small, elliptic, and glossy. It was bred by Anthony Sammarello in Ohio, USA, as a hybrid between varieties Desirée and Rosebud. Thanks to its durability and beauty it quickly became a demanded parent for further breeding, until 2000 it was used for 22 new hybrids, among which one of the most renowned rhododendron and azalea hybridizer Hans Hachmann had 8 of his very successful varieties. Elsie Lee is still a sought-after variety for ericaceous landscapes today.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. Hardy to about -27°C (USDA zone 5b).
Last update 18-05-2017
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GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
