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Azalea japonica Dorothy Heiden

Rhododendron (Azalea) japonica Dorothy Heiden
Japanese Azalea

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She was very beautiful in flower when I got her last year, but since I fertilized her, she doesn't seem to be doing well... Keep an eye on her.

Sophie, 27/05/2023

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

More information

A medium-sized, relatively compact variety,  which has large, light green leaves and is covered with massive, extremely bright white flowers in spring. It is a very beautiful ericaceous shrub, which will look great in semi-shaded flowerbeds. Suitable for growing in a large container, to decorate a terrace or a balcony not too exposed to the sun.
Flower size
6 cm
Height at maturity
1 m
Spread at maturity
1.20 m
Exposure
Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -15°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, October to December
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Flowering time April to May
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Description

The Japanese Azalea Dorothy Heiden is a particularly bright variety of Japanese Azalea, when it is adorned with its large, almost pure white flowers, in spring. This flowers almost covers the foliage which consists of large oval leaves that generally last over winter. Japanese Azaleas are among the most beautiful ericaceous plants, as long as they have appropriate growing conditions: provide them with a lime-free, moist but well-drainedsoil, as well as a semi-shaded position.

The Japanese Azalea is a mostly evergreen shrub in the Rhododendron or Ericaceae family. It is characterized by a dazzling spring flowers and foliage that is not completely evergreen. These Azaleas have two types of foliage: the spring foliage is fine and quite wide, while the foliage that forms in late summer, is tougher and smaller. The spring leaves fall in autumn, while the majority of leaves produced at the end of summer will last throughout winter. Very hardy, they are native to Japan, China, and Korea.

'Dorothy Heiden' is a very beautiful cultivar bred in the state of New Jersey (USA) in 1960. It is a medium-sized shrub with a bushy and slightly spreading habit. It reaches about 1m (3 ft 4 in) in height and 1.20m (3 ft 11 in) in spread at maturity. It flowers for about 3 weeks, usually in May, depending on the climate. The large trumpet-shaped flowers, 6.5cm (2.6 in) long, are bright white and speckled with pale green at the centre. They are gathered in generous terminal clusters that almost entirely cover the leaves. The foliage consists of single, oval-lanceolate leaves with smooth edges, arranged alternately on the branches. They are a fairly dark, bluish green with a matte finish and vary in length from 5 to 6cm (2 to 2.4 in). 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 all year round. They are a perfect accompaniment to heathers, Pieris, Japanese maples, or their relatives, Chinese Azaleas, which change colour with the seasons. They can also be combined with Japanese camellias, as well as their graceful, often fragrant, autumn-flowering cousins, the Camellia sasanqua hybrids. This variety will look wonderful on a terrace or balcony, in a large, carefully chosen pot, with suitable compost and watered with alkaline-free water.

 

Azalea japonica Dorothy Heiden in pictures

Azalea japonica Dorothy Heiden (Flowering) Flowering
Azalea japonica Dorothy Heiden (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 1.20 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate slow

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time April to May
Flower size 6 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
Foliage colour dark green

Botanical data

Genus

Rhododendron (Azalea)

Species

japonica

Cultivar

Dorothy Heiden

Family

Ericaceae

Other common names

Japanese Azalea

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference1004082

Planting and care

The Dorothy Heiden Japanese Azalea thrives in a rather shady location, unlike the Chinese Azalea, but its preferred position is in partial shade. Plant it in an ericaceous or humus-rich, well-drained and lime-free soil.  Make sure not to plant the root ball too deep, it should be level with the surface of the soil. Water copiously with alkaline-free water during dry periods, at least once a week in the first year. In spring, apply a fertilizer for ericaceous plants. Pruning is not essential but it is a good idea to prune lightly after flowering to keep the plant looking neat. Remove spent flowers to encourage new growth. The Azalea suffers from very few diseases when well-established outdoors. It can be attacked by weevils that eat the edges of the leaves and rootlets, and by the famous "Rhododendron lace bug", though not often causing significant damage. If the soil is chalky or poorly drained, or if the rootball is too deep, the leaves may turn yellow and eventually die.

 

Japanese Azaleas thrive in cool and humid climates, they are generally very hardy but tolerate neither dry air nor dry soil.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, October to December

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Edge of border, Container
Hardiness Hardy down to -15°C (USDA zone 7b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Humus-rich, well-drained

Care

Pruning instructions Pruning optional. After flowering, remove dead wood and if you need to limit the branches, do so sparingly, as severe pruning could compromise future flowers.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time June to July
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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