Azalea contest 2020-2025

[Pitoon]

How thick are the leaves?
- 0.25mm
How thick is the stem on the new flush of growth?
- 1.75-2.0mm
Are the leaves fuzzy or furry underneath?
- Doesn't look like it
Is the new flush of growth tacky or sticky?
- Doesn't feel like it

I found ONE flower left... 10 stamens =(

Photos:

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Sorry, but that's clearly a Rhododendron. The contest is for azaleas only, and to keep the contest fair to everyone you cannot enter this plant into the contest. If you can obtain an azalea please do and enter it. If would be great if you can participate in the contest.

 

[RJG2]

I have one more potential in my yard, before I would need to head to the store... One more try?

10 Stamens still... Leaves are pointier though.

How thick are the leaves?
- 0.12mm
How thick is the stem on the new flush of growth?
- None yet.
Are the leaves fuzzy or furry underneath?
- Hairs along the edges and bottom.
Is the new flush of growth tacky or sticky?
- None yet.

 

[Pitoon]

I have one more potential in my yard, before I would need to head to the store... One more try?

10 Stamens still... Leaves are pointier though.

How thick are the leaves?
- 0.12mm
How thick is the stem on the new flush of growth?
- None yet.
Are the leaves fuzzy or furry underneath?
- Hairs along the edges and bottom.
Is the new flush of growth tacky or sticky?
- None yet.

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Me personally I would believe and say that is an azalea. @Leo in N E Illinois what's your thoughts? Anyone else would like to chime in?

 

[RJG2]

And it looks like it has some kind of scale. Awesome. Ha...

 

[Harunobu]

It is an evergreen azalea, something like 'Girard's Pleasant White' or 'Everest'. Definitely a mucronatum-type hybrid. All these white-flowered mucronatum-hybrids look so similar. Benjamin Morrison crossed many of them with satsuki, and they don't look much different. And I crossed one of them again with a satsuki, and all 3 of my seedlings are white with similar foliage. Just smaller leaves and flowers and they flower slightly later.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Agree.

 

[Harunobu]

And it looks like it has some kind of scale. Awesome. Ha...

Yeah, it doesn't look very healthy. The leaves should be greener. And then your leaf has these insects on the underside. Probably azalea bark scale. Might not be the right starting material for a contest. I'd try a store. You can also find something more bushy and dwarfish, maybe. These mucronatum hybrids often prefer to be twiggy taller plants.

 

[RJG2]

Yeah, it doesn't look very healthy. The leaves should be greener. And then your leaf has these insects on the underside. Probably azalea bark scale. Might not be the right starting material for a contest. I'd try a store. You can also find something more bushy and dwarfish, maybe. These mucronatum hybrids often prefer to be twiggy taller plants.

Agreed. I've never paid much attention to them (until now), I just planted them where my wife told me - which I now know is a horrible spot (too much sun, not enough drainage).

 

[Pitoon]

Well I'll have to see if the nurseries around here have stock, as we've just started coming out of lock down. If I can find something I'm in. I doubt I'll find Satsuki in our climate.... so it'll be something else, which is ok. I have a completed picture of what I want for the end product already, so I guess the next time I venture out, I'll go hunt one up.

@JudyB any luck finding a plant to enter?

 

[JudyB]

@JudyB any luck finding a plant to enter?

Can't imagine that I'll find a satsuki here, so I may try to get something mailed to me from Nuccios.

 

[Pitoon]

Can't imagine that I'll find a satsuki here, so I may try to get something mailed to me from Nuccios.

Have you ever ordered from them before? I've looked at their catalog and it's extensive.

 

[JudyB]

Have you ever ordered from them before? I've looked at their catalog and it's extensive.

I have not but got some advice from @Deep Sea Diver about how to go about it. Trouble is figuring out what cultivar to go with as not all are pictured, so you have to go look up a lot of stuff. Hope to get a chance soon, DSD said you really need to call them in person.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

That I did - as it will really help you in your final decision and it’s really no bother.
If you want to order from Nuccios, I recommend you look at their catalog first and familiarize yourself with their growing codes on P 36 listed just before the Satsukis. Note their own satsuki hybrids are on P 35 Then chose 3 you like and call them up to check that they have in stock.
I’ve purchased 5 varieties from the in the past months just because. I like them and I’m getting a bit tired of seeing Hini Crimson and Mother’s Day Azaleas all over the area. They are Chitose Nishiki, Kikisui (2) Minato, Shinsen and Shinno N Tsuki and they are all in really good shape. I put 1/2 in the ground and 1/2 in training pots.... presently trying to decide which to enter in the contest. It looks like a tie between Kikisui, Shinsen. I plan to figure this out soon and I’ll post my selection then.
cheers
DSD sends

 

[Harunobu]

I'd so get a 'Kogetsu' and a 'Komei'. Then, if you care for large flowers and you want the very best large flower cultivar, I'd get 'Juko' and 'Haru no Sono'. If you want something small and plain that is hardier and for bonsai/foliage specifically, I'd get two of these: 'Kozan/Kinsai/Chizen/Kazan/Korin'. Those are the big name cultivar that are extremely popular. Some of those others, I don't recognize by name. And if you are in zone 5 and buying this for a 5 year bonsai challenge I wouldn't get the large bloom pre-bonsai era maruba-type cultivar like Aikoku/Eikan/Shinnyo-no-Tsuki/Gyoten/Kagetsu, unless you feel like collecting and you got several. (Granted, Juko and Haru no Sono fit that description too, but they are just too lovely to not buy. Those that I just mentioned are kind of obselete/old fashioned a little bit).

But above those, I'd get an 'Aozora' instead from White's Nursery:

https://www.whites-nursery.com/uploads/3/4/4/9/34491404/2020_evergreen_inventory.pdf

Just because I love 'Aozora'/'Hekisui'. And they are in Maryland, so that should be easier for you east coast people. Don't know if their service is any good, obviously.
(And I learned that nurseries are 'Essential businesses' during covid19.)

Hini Crimson and Mother’s Day? Sounds like a Dutch nursery: Moederkesdag. I can't believe that stuff still sells here.

 

[Pitoon]

That I did - as it will really help you in your final decision and it’s really no bother.
If you want to order from Nuccios, I recommend you look at their catalog first and familiarize yourself with their growing codes on P 36 listed just before the Satsukis. Note their own satsuki hybrids are on P 35 Then chose 3 you like and call them up to check that they have in stock.
I’ve purchased 5 varieties from the in the past months just because. I like them and I’m getting a bit tired of seeing Hini Crimson and Mother’s Day Azaleas all over the area. They are Chitose Nishiki, Kikisui (2) Minato, Shinsen and Shinno N Tsuki and they are all in really good shape. I put 1/2 in the ground and 1/2 in training pots.... presently trying to decide which to enter in the contest. It looks like a tie between Kikisui, Shinsen. I plan to figure this out soon and I’ll post my selection then.
cheers
DSD sends

Excellent info! Just remember that if you enter the contest the plant has to be untouched in its natural state.

 

[Pitoon]

I'd so get a 'Kogetsu' and a 'Komei'. Then, if you care for large flowers and you want the very best large flower cultivar, I'd get 'Juko' and 'Haru no Sono'. If you want something small and plain that is hardier and for bonsai/foliage specifically, I'd get two of these: 'Kozan/Kinsai/Chizen/Kazan/Korin'. Those are the big name cultivar that are extremely popular. Some of those others, I don't recognize by name. And if you are in zone 5 and buying this for a 5 year bonsai challenge I wouldn't get the large bloom pre-bonsai era maruba-type cultivar like Aikoku/Eikan/Shinnyo-no-Tsuki/Gyoten/Kagetsu, unless you feel like collecting and you got several. (Granted, Juko and Haru no Sono fit that description too, but they are just too lovely to not buy. Those that I just mentioned are kind of obselete/old fashioned a little bit).

But above those, I'd get an 'Aozora' instead from White's Nursery:

https://www.whites-nursery.com/uploads/3/4/4/9/34491404/2020_evergreen_inventory.pdf

Just because I love 'Aozora'/'Hekisui'. And they are in Maryland, so that should be easier for you east coast people. Don't know if their service is any good, obviously.
(And I learned that nurseries are 'Essential businesses' during covid19.)

Hini Crimson and Mother’s Day? Sounds like a Dutch nursery: Moederkesdag. I can't believe that stuff still sells here.

Good find on that nursery. They are about 1.5hrs away from me. I may take a trip there to see what they have on site verse ordering from Nuccios and having to pay that shipping.

 

[Harunobu]

Ah cool! They seem to be just as specialized as Nuccio's in azaleas. They basically have all the hip new cultivar, including McDonnald, Marshy Point, Klimavicz, and some other people who are currently developing new cultivar.

And if you still want to, you can still get a 'Moederkesdag' there. The blooms will be spend, but hey you already known how it looks. But if I would go there, I'd get myself a 'Mary Lou Dority'.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Really nice find! They show some Chitosenishiki satsuki azaleas in stock, a variety I’ve been looking for. I think I’ll email for a quote.
I decided on entering the Kikisui I put in the ground last month... Ill post it separately.
cheers
DSD sends

 

[KLSbonsai]

Both of those nurseries seem to good for their number of varieties of satsuki. I have looked at both, been considering a long weekend trip to White's.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

And if you still want to, you can still get a 'Moederkesdag' there. The blooms will be spend, but hey you already known how it looks. But if I would go there, I'd get myself a 'Mary Lou Dority'.

I love those Moederkesdag azaleas, but I’ve restricted them to the side of the front yard. They are awesome for a display. One little girl walking by those azaleas with her Mother said, “The red is so pretty it hurts my eyes!”
cheers
DSD sends