Azalea japonica 'VUYK'S SCARLET'

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.

Vuyk’s Scarlet is an evergreen azalea from Kaempferi hybrids group, bred by C.B. van Nes & Sons from Dutch nursery town Boskoop in 1954. It produces large, 4-5 cm across, single, light magenta pink flowers with slightly wavy margins and deeper pink dots in the throat. They open in late May for 2-3 weeks on the background of small, dark green, ovate to elliptic, and glossy leaves. The plant is rather small and forms compact, mounding, but not dwarf shrubs slightly over half a meter tall and wide.

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 never plant them too deep. Hardy to abt. -25 °C (USDA zone 5b-6).

Last update 16-07-2021.