Azalea japonica Izumi no mai

The Japanese Azalea or Azalea (x) kurume Izumi no Mai is an excellent Japanese variety that is cold-resistant, compact, and very floriferous. In spring, this shrub produces countless clusters of pink-red funnel-shaped flowers that open to reveal a beautiful white centre. There are so many flowers that they partially hide the small, glossy leaves, transforming the plant into a remarkably colourful bouquet. With its moderate size and Japanese Azalea habit, it is just as suited to small gardens as it is to growing in pots on a terrace.

The Rhododendron (x) kurume Izumi no Mai is a hybrid of unknown parents, bred in Japan in 1987 by T. Kuwana. Kurume Azaleas are creations of Japanese breeder Mr. Sakamoto, selected in Kurume, located on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan. Azalea (x) kurume is the result of crosses between 3 species: Rhododendron kuisianum, R. Kaempferi, and R. sataense. It is an evergreen shrub that thrives in cool, damp temperate climates and is said to withstand temperatures as low as -15°C (5 °F). Its foliage, however, can be damaged by severe frosts.

'Izumi no Mai' is a modest-sized variety, well-branched, with a dense and spreading habit. The shrub reaches about 75 cm (29.5 in) in height and 50 cm (19.7 in) in spread by the age of 10. It is slow-growing so will not exceed 1x 1 m (3 ft 4 in x 3 ft 4 in) even after many years. Its beautifully bicoloured flowers bloom for 3 weeks in May, in the middle of the Japanese Azalea season. The flowers are funnel-shaped and clustered in terminal clusters of 4 to 5. The evergreen foliage consists of small, single, elliptical leaves with smooth edges, 4-5 cm (1.6-2 in) in length, arranged alternately on the branches. They are medium green with a glossy finish. Each leaf has a lifespan of 3 years. 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. In these conditions, 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 Izumi no Mai variety, which forms a beautiful cushion, allows for playing with heights and filling the gaps under large ericaceous shrubs. It will look wonderful in a large cool, moist, shady rockery or at the front of borders, but also on the terrace or balcony, in a large, carefully chosen pot, in suitable soil and watered with lime-free water.