Chinese Azalea Karminduft

The 'Karminduft' Chinese Azalea is a beautiful deciduous bush with small leaves of a bright green colour. Of medium size, this variety is particularly interesting due to its delayed flowering compared to other deciduous Azaleas, as it appears at the end of May and in June. The bush is then covered with lovely carmine red flowers that exude a sweet fragrance. Very hardy, this bush will thrive in a moderately sunny or semi-shaded position, in acidic soil that remains slightly moist. It is an excellent choice for a small garden that will be brightened up by its flamboyant flowering at an unusual time for a Rhododendron.

Azaleas, now classified as part of the Rhododendron family, are members of the Ericaceae family which includes many ornamental genera (Kalmia, Leucothoe, Erica, Calluna, Oxydendrum, Gaultheria, Pieris...) as well as some small fruits (Vaccinium: blueberry, Arbutus: strawberry tree, Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi: bearberry). The Rhododendron genus is very diverse, with about a thousand species, ranging from evergreen to deciduous, from miniature bushes to 15m (49ft 2in) tall trees. Their flowering covers almost the entire range of colours thanks to the numerous horticultural varieties available on the market.

Rhododendron viscosum is a species native to the eastern United States, where it is indigenous over a large geographical and climatic area, from cold New England (which explains its great hardiness down to -24°C (-11.2 °F) or even lower) to subtropical Florida (which gives it one of its common names, Swamp Azalea). This amazing range is not its only uniqueness, as it blooms in June-July, which is very unusual, producing flowers with sticky tubes (hence its species name viscosum).

The 'Karminduft' Rhododendron is a horticultural hybrid that owes its existence to Hans Hachmann (1930-2004), a German nurseryman and breeder in Barmstedt near Pinneberg. This variety forms a medium-sized bush, which will reach about 1.60m (5ft 2in) in all directions after 10 or 15 years of cultivation, and under the best conditions can reach up to 1.80m (5ft 11in). Its leaves are smaller than those of other deciduous Azaleas, with a regular elliptical shape and a beautiful bright green colour. Like other varieties of Rhododendron viscosum, 'Karminduft' stands out for its late flowering. Indeed, it is only at the end of May that gorgeous trumpet-shaped flowers with 5 petals open up, blooming until June. Of medium size, about 5 to 6cm (2 to 2.4in) in diameter, they are nevertheless spectacular due to their vibrant carmine red colour that bursts forth as summer approaches. With their gracefully arched prominent stamens, they have a proud appearance and never fail to create a sensation among visitors, surprised to see Azaleas in bloom at this time of year... guaranteed success! This flamboyant flowering is accompanied by the attraction of a fairly intense and equally unusual fragrance. Nectar-bearing, its flowers delight bees and other pollinators, adding a utilitarian role to its ornamental interest.

In cool climates, this Rhododendron can grow in full sun, elsewhere, it is preferable to plant it in partial shade. It especially fears drought and will appreciate cool and even moist soils, preferably acidic (pH 4.5 to 5.5) or neutral, enriched with heath soil, but definitely not limestone.

The 'Karminduft' Rhododendron will be ideal for extending the flowering season of a heathland bed. Its delayed flowering will allow you to enjoy a long flowering period by mixing it with early and semi-late varieties. Obviously, it would be a shame in a heathland bed to limit yourself to just the Rhododendron genus, when there are so many other contenders! With their often compact habit, Japanese Andromedas, or Pieris, will be perfect in the foreground, with their dense foliage and small bell-shaped flowers similar to heathers in spring. A little less known, Mountain Laurels or Kalmias are superb bushes whose dark green foliage enhances the magnificent flowering at the same time as 'Karminduft'. And for summer flowers, nothing beats the countless Hydrangeas, such as  H. macrophylla  with their well-known large heads, but also other species, such as Hydrangea serrata 'Tiara' with flat heads, in a harmony of colours from pink to lavender blue, and whose autumn foliage turns deep purple red...

Divided into 2 horticultural groups, the Rhododendron genus includes, on one hand, the Azaleas, Chinese and Japanese, with small persistent or deciduous leaves, with 5 stamens per flower, and on the other hand, the Rhododendrons, with ample, persistent and glossy foliage, whose flowers have more than 10 stamens. Although highly debatable from a botanical point of view, since Azaleas are in fact Rhododendrons, this classification is still widely used by horticultural professionals... and also by the many enthusiasts of these superb plants.