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Azalea japonica Mme Van Hecke

Rhododendron (Azalea) japonica Mme Van Hecke
Japanese Azalea

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This variety is appreciated for its medium-sized, funnel-shaped flowers of dazzling soft pink in May! It forms a pretty little bush with dark green, evergreen foliage that turns bronze with the seasons and remains ornamental all year round. Small in size, it's an interesting shrub for adding light to a small garden or to brighten up a pot on a shady balcony. It thrives in bright situations, shaded from intense sun, and in light, well-drained, non-chalky, moist soil.
Flower size
5 cm
Height at maturity
60 cm
Spread at maturity
80 cm
Exposure
Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -18°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, October to November
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Description

The 'Madame Van Hecke' Japanese Azalea is a variety cultivated for its multitude of medium-sized, luminous soft pink flowers, which appear in spring. It forms a small bushy, rounded evergreen shrub, wider than it is high, covered in dark green foliage that turns bronze with the passing seasons. Its small size makes it ideal  for planting in shady gardens where space is at a premium, or to decorate a window box. It is hardy and easy to grow, as long as it has a semi-shaded position and moist, well-drained, lime-free soil that is neither too dry nor too wet.

The 'Madame Van Hecke' Azalea is part of a series of evergreen hybrids very similar to the original Rhododendron kaempferi which was created in 1921. These shrubs do well in cool, damp temperate climates with distinct seasons.

'Madame Van Hecke' or 'Mme Van Hecke' is a small variety with a dense, rounded habit that spreads with age. Slow-growing, it reaches about 60 cm (23.6 in) in height and 80 cm (31.5 in) in spread. Its truly dazzling flowers bloom in May and last for a considerable time. The medium-sized flowers, about 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2 in) in diameter, with beautifully wavy edges, are a superb shade of soft pink. They are funnel-shaped and arranged in terminal clusters of 4 to 5. The evergreen foliage consists of small, simple, elliptical leaves with smooth edges, arranged alternately on the branches. They are light green in spring whilst the late summer foliage is dark green with a glossy finish, turning bronze with the cold weather. 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 and ericaceous soil. They are beautiful evergreen shrubs for borders 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, as well as Japanese camellias, and their graceful, often fragrant, autumn-flowering cousins, the Camellia sasanqua hybrids. This variety, 'Mme Van Hecke', which spreads more in width than in height, allows for playing with levels and filling in the gaps below large ericaceous shrubs. It will look wonderful in a large, cool, moist, shaded rockery or at the front of borders, as well as on a terrace or balcony, in a large, carefully chosen pot with a suitable compost, and watered with lime-free water.

Azalea japonica Mme Van Hecke in pictures

Azalea japonica Mme Van Hecke (Flowering) Flowering

Plant habit

Height at maturity 60 cm
Spread at maturity 80 cm
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate slow

Flowering

Flower colour pink
Flowering time May
Inflorescence Cyme
Flower size 5 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour dark green

Botanical data

Genus

Rhododendron (Azalea)

Species

japonica

Cultivar

Mme Van Hecke

Family

Ericaceae

Other common names

Japanese Azalea

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference1004142

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Planting and care

The 'Mme Van Hecke' Japanese Azalea thrives in a rather shaded location, unlike the Chinese Azalea, but its preferred position is in partial shade. Plant it in a humus-rich and well-drained, non-alkaline 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", 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.

Planting period

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

Intended location

Suitable for Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Container
Hardiness Hardy down to -18°C (USDA zone 7a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 2 per m2
Exposure Partial shade
Soil pH Acidic
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, humus-bearing, well-drained.

Care

Pruning instructions The size is optional. After flowering, remove dead wood and if you need to limit the branches, do so sparingly, as severe pruning could compromise future flowering.
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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