Azalea japonica Repetita® Violet - Perpetual japanese azalea

The Repetita® Violet Hybrid Azalea is a decorative variety, prized for its vivid violet to fuchsia flowering, which extends from spring through autumn due to its perpetual nature. It forms a small bush with a dense, harmonious and slightly spreading habit, perfect for structure in borders, partially shaded scenes, or containers on a sheltered terrace. This hardy plant requires moist, acidic, rich and well-drained soil. It dislikes overly scorching exposures or limestone, and thrives in temperate climate gardens, where it brilliantly extends the flowering season.

Japanese Azalea or Evergreen Azalea Repetita® Violet, botanically designated Rhododendron 'RLH1-14P14', is a horticultural cultivar belonging to the Ericaceae family. This cultivar was developed in the United States by horticulturists Robert and Lisa Head and is the result of complex hybridisations aimed at achieving prolonged flowering, from the indica x japonica species. This cultivar is distinguished by its compact and rounded habit, forming a dense and bushy shrub. Its growth is moderate, reaching approximately 50 to 70 cm in height and width after 10 years of cultivation in open ground. In containers, its dimensions are slightly smaller, varying according to growing conditions. The single to semi-double flowers measure between 7 and 8.5 cm in diameter and are violet-fuchsia. They appear abundantly in spring (April-May), with sporadic flowering in summer and a more marked flowering in autumn, until the first frosts. The flowering is mainly apical, meaning located at the tips of the stems. The flowers are sterile, producing no fruits or seeds. The foliage is semi-evergreen to evergreen, composed of dark green, narrow and slightly glossy leaves, measuring 3 to 5 cm long. The stems are thin, flexible and brownish, with smooth bark. The root system is shallow, fibrous and spreading, making the plant sensitive to prolonged droughts and poorly drained soils. The Repetita® Violet Azalea was selected for its ability to flower several times a year, a rare characteristic among azaleas. This makes it a highly sought-after plant for providing a prolonged touch of colour in gardens and on terraces.

The intense fuchsia flowering of the Repetita® Violet Azalea will play off the dark foliage of a Leucothoe ‘Curly Red’, the silver echoes of a Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ and the lightness of a Hakonechloa ‘All Gold’. Placed in a container on a shaded terrace, it becomes the focal point of a refined decor, evolving with the seasons.