Azalea japonica Christina

Japanese Azalea Christina is a small evergreen bush that belongs to the large Rhododendron family. With its naturally rounded, compact habit and its abundance of spring flowers, it is as ornamental in the garden as it is in a pretty pot on the terrace. With vividly coloured double, carmine-pink blooms in spring, this small shrub with green foliage that turns reddish tones in winter livens up the partially shaded areas of the garden all year long. Japanese azaleas merit the changes necessary to create the conditions they prefer: they thrive in partial shade, in consistently moist, lime-free soil.

The Hybrid Rhododendron Christina is a Belgian hybrid developed by Meyer in 1977. It is part of a series of evergreen hybrids derived from species originating from eastern Asia such as the Rhododendron simsii, the R. indicum and the R. mucronatum. These hybrid Azaleas, belonging to the 'Belgian Indica' group, were initially selected for greenhouse forcing, but they also perform well in cool and humid temperate climates, with distinct seasons.

'Christina' is a medium-sized variety with a dense, somewhat spreading and rounded habit, reaching about 90 cm (35.4 in) in height and 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in spread by the age of 10. This slow-growing shrub will not exceed 1.5 x 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in x4 ft 11 in) even after many years. Its abundant flowers bloom over a long period in April. In very mild climates, it can flower in winter and again in autumn. The beautiful flowers, in shades of pink turning to red, have an additional corolla of petals in the centre of the main corolla. They are funnel-shaped and grouped in terminal clusters of 3 to 5. The foliage, semi-evergreen to evergreen depending on the climate, consists of single, elliptical, hairy, entire-edged leaves, arranged alternately on the branches. They are a rather light green colour in spring and they vary from 5 to 10 cm (2 to 3.9 in) in length. The late summer foliage is a fairly dark green, with a shiny finish, turning brown-purple in winter. Azaleas and Rhododendrons have a shallow root system that always needs to be kept moist, but they also dislike waterlogged soil which would suffocate the roots.

Japanese Azaleas thrive in cool climates with distinct winters, planted in humus-rich, acid soil, such as ericaceous soil. They are very attractive evergreen shrubs for flower beds or containers, attractive all year round. They are a perfect accompaniment to heathers, Japanese maples, or their relatives, Chinese Azaleas, which change colour with the seasons. Combine them with quinces and Japanese camellias, as well as their graceful, often fragrant, autumn-flowering cousins, the Camellia sasanqua hybrids.  This Christina variety will look wonderful on the terrace or balcony, in a large, carefully chosen pot, in suitable soil, and watered with alkaline-free water.