Rhododendron kaempferi Peggy Ann - Japanese Azalea

The 'Peggy Ann' Japanese Azalea is a small semi-evergreen bush that belongs to the large rhododendron family. With its naturally rounded and compact habit and its generous spring flowering, it is as ornamental in the garden as it is in a pretty pot on the terrace. Forming a true ball of flowers in May, which almost makes the bush disappear under a multitude of small bicoloured flowers, white edged with bright pink and touched with mauve, this azalea deserves some adjustments to recreate the conditions it loves: it will thrive in full sun or partial shade, in a moist, lime-free soil.

Rhododendron kaempferi is a mostly evergreen bush from the heath family, Ericaceae, native to Japan. In nature, this bush is found inside and on the edge of deciduous forests, up to 1200m (3937ft) altitude.

'Peggy Ann' (synonym 'Roehr's Peggy Ann') is a Belgian hybrid cultivar, obtained in 1955 by Baumann. It is a small variety, naturally compact, with a rounded habit, reaching about 60 - 70cm (23.6 - 27.6in) in all directions. It flowers abundantly in May, for a beautiful period. The small flowers, 5cm (2in) long and wide, have pastel and refined shades, funnel-shaped, and are gathered in terminal clusters. The base of the petals is white, as are the long stamens, bringing a lot of light to the corolla of a pale pink infused with mauve and bordered with a darker pink, almost magenta. The semi-evergreen foliage is composed of single, ovate-lanceolate, entire-edged leaves, arranged alternately on the branches. Their size varies from 5 to 10 centimetres (2 to 3.9 inches) in length, and their colour is a fairly dark green, with a glossy finish. Rhododendrons develop a shallow root system, which should never lack moisture, but they fear stagnant humidity that suffocates them.

Japanese azaleas thrive in cool climates, with distinct winters, planted in humus-rich and acidic soil, such as heath soil. They are very beautiful evergreen shrubs for flowerbeds or flowering pots, attractive all year round. They happily accompany heather, Japanese maples, or their relatives the Chinese azaleas, which change their appearance throughout the seasons, as well as Japanese camellias and their graceful cousins with often fragrant autumnal flowering, the hybrids of C. sasanqua. This 'Peggy Ann' variety will work wonders on the terrace or balcony, in a carefully chosen large pot, with a suitable substrate, and preferably watered with non-lime water.