Azalea x 'CAROLINA' Japanese hybrid azalea
size/type
medium-sized shrub,medium-sized shrub
usual height
0,5-1,5m
usual width
0,5-1,5m
leaves
evergreen broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
May-June
location
semi-shade / partial sun
USDA zone (lowest)
7 (down to -23°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Hybrid azaleas are becoming more and more popular as they offer various features that usual Japanese azaleas lack. They are cross-bred, manually selected and crossed again to achieve the most attractive, largest as well as the longest-time bloomers. Carolina is a new variety which probably comes from crossing of Robin Hill and Satsuki types.
Description of the plant:
Hybrid azalea Carolina is a typical item for collectors and everyone who loves multi-coloured flowers. Their centres are almost entirely purplish-pink while the margins show rich white variegation. This effect is similar to another Robin Hill variety called Conversation Piece, however, Carolina does not often revert to overall pink like Conversation Piece does. The flowers are 5-6 cm across and come out from late May until mid June in zone 6. And now, fanfare for an extraordinary feature: Carolina blooms FOR THE SECOND TIME in AUTUMN. Not a couple of flowers, for sure. We counted as many as 40 opened flowers on a one-meter tall bush in late October, and a few buds yet ready to open. This pushes Carolina right up the chart of the most demanded flowering plants.
The evergreen leaves are narrow, elliptic, deep green and some of them change to honey yellow and coppery orange and red before winter, just like Purple Splendor variety. It forms an airy bush which can be clipped to become more compact and denser. If so, do it immediately after flowering. After pruning don’t use fertilizers enhancing growth rate. The size of new branches would get out hand and spoil the shape you are going to achieve.
Azaleas need light, permeable soil that is acidic, 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. Grow them in preferably in semi-shade, or a position with filtered sunlight, or in a place with full sun for only part of the day. This one is hardy to about -24°C (USDA zone 6), but may take a few degrees lower.
Last update 18-12-2010.
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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.
