Azalea japonica Tamanini

The 'Tamanini' Japanese Azalea, a small, evergreen shrub in the Rhododendron family, is distinguished by its year-round bronze foliage, which is decorative even in winter. This rather late variety has small, trumpet-shaped spring flowers of a warm, luminous brick-red with a hint of pink. Japanese azaleas look wonderful in pots on the terrace, or as a border plant. They merit the few changes needed to recreate the conditions they love: they thrive in semi-shade, in soil that is always moist and lime-free. 

Little is known about the origins of the Tamanini hybrid Rhododendron. It is part of a large group of evergreen hybrids known for their hardiness, adaptability, abundance of flowers and vibrant colours. Their complex genealogy probably includes the Asian species Rhododendron kaempferi, R. kiusianum, as well as various  species and ancient Japanese hybrids. It is generally preferable to protect them from the severest cold. 'Tamanini' is however hardy down to -15°C (5 °F).

'Tamanini' is a medium-sized variety with a rather rounded habit. The slow-growing plant will reach around 1 m x 1m (3 ft 4 in x 3 ft 4 in) by the age of 10, depending on growing conditions.  Flowering generally starts at the end of April, or even in May, depending on the climate. It is made up of small trumpet-shaped flowers with a corolla of wavy petals in a very consistent, satiny, coppery pinky-red. The centre of the flower has long, similar-coloured stamens. The flowers are grouped in terminal clusters of 3 to 5. The foliage is generally evergreen and is made up of small, simple, oval leaves measuring 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in), with smooth edges, arranged alternately on the branches. They are green with bronze highlights; the young leaves that appear after flowering are a lovely soft green. 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 beautiful evergreen shrubs for borders or pots, attractive all year round. They harmonise beautifully with heathers, Japanese maples, or their Chinese relatives that change colour with the seasons, as well as Japanese camellias and their graceful, often fragrant, autumn-flowering cousins, the Camellia sasanqua hybrids. This Tamanini variety, forming a beautifully coloured mound of flowers in spring, will look wonderful on the terrace or balcony, in a large, carefully chosen pot, in suitable soil, and watered with lime-free water.