Azalea japonica Vuyks Scarlet

The Vuyk's Scarlet Japanese Azalea is an old Dutch variety that is still valued for its resistance to cold and luxuriant flowers in May. This remarkable, low, compact and slightly spreading shrub produces very large, brilliant carmine-red flowers above small, usually evergreen foliage, which takes on lovely coppery-red tones in cold weather. This brilliant Azalea is a reliable plant, which will liven up shady rock gardens or the areas underneath the canopy of tall rhododendrons in a distinct way.

The Hybrid Rhododendron Vuyk's Scarlet, coming from unknown parents, was developed in the Vuyk van Nes nurseries, back in 1954. It is part of a series of evergreen hybrids, very similar to the original Rhododendron kaempferi created in 1921. They perform well in cool and humid temperate climates, with distinct seasons. This variety has received an award of merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, England, for its ornamental qualities and garden performance.

'Vuyk's Scarlet' is a medium-sized variety, with a dense habit initially rounded but spreading with age. It reaches about 80 cm (31.5 in) in height and 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) in spread by the age of 10. Growing rather slowly, this shrub will not exceed 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in height and 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in spread after many years. It blooms over a long period in May and is truly dazzling. The very large flowers, 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter with beautiful wavy edges, are a superb carmine-red glowing with intense pink highlights. They are funnel-shaped and are gathered in terminal clusters of 4 to 5. The evergreen foliage consists of small, single, elliptical leaves with smooth edges, arranged alternately on the branches. They are a rather light green in spring while the late summer foliage is a fairly dark green, with a shiny finish, turning bronze, copper and purple in winter. 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 scented, autumn-flowering cousins, the Camellia sasanqua hybrids. This Vuyk's Scarlet variety, growing wider than it does high, allows you to play with heights and fill in the gaps left below large ericaceous shrubs. It will look wonderful in a large, cool, moist, shaded 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.