Azalea japonica 'PURPURKISSEN' Japanese azalea
size/type
small shrub,small shrub
usual height
0,4-0,6m
usual width
0,8-1,3m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
June
location
full to partial sun
soil type
acidic (peaty)
soil moisture requirements
evenly moist but well-drained
USDA zone (lowest)
5 (down to -29°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Azalea
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.Description of the plant:
Purpurkissen is an evergreen Japanese azalea bred by Hans Hachmann and introduced in 1993. It is a compact to dwarf shrub which despite its congested habit and small foliage makes impressively large flowers. They are 5-5.5 cm across, open wide, magenta purple and open late in the season: in early June. Blooming lasts 2-3 weeks and at its peak the flowers completely smother the plant that you cannot see a single leaf. Leaves are reliably evergreen, small, broadly elliptic to ovate, glossy, dark green in summer and deep bronze in winter. The plant grows slowly into a low, spreading shrub about 40 cm tall and 60-80 cm wide in 10 years. It copes well with full sun, too. Medals received: Gold at BUGA Dortmund 1991 and Gold at IGA Rostock 2003. The variety name is sometimes erroneously translated as Purple Kisses but we as it is a German name and Kissen in German means pillow, hence Purple Pillow.
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
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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.
