Azalea contest 2020-2025

[Schmikah]

One Azalea to rule them all
One Azalea to find them
One Azalea to bring them all
And in the sunlight bind them

Thank you for that. This literally made my day. I'm pretty sure my roommate thinks I'm losing what marbles I have left laughing at this.

 

[Pitoon]

@Pitoon
Will multiple entries be allowed? Maybe one from each category of starting material.

Just one tree and one category.......top 3 win. You start and end with the same tree. If you kill it you can start over with another one.

 

[BunjaeKorea]

Thank you for that. This literally made my day. I'm pretty sure my roommate thinks I'm losing what marbles I have left laughing at this.

Most welcome!

 

[Potsofgreen]

@Pitoon So we can start now? When can we submit our entry?

 

[Pitoon]

@Pitoon So we can start now? When can we submit our entry?

You can start looking for a plant now, but contest will officially start 1JAN, with posting your selection. Many of us already have plants to start with.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

This leggy lady is growing under the deck in my backyard. Azalea?? If yes, count me in!

View attachment 273371View attachment 273372

Above the leaves are "too leathery" and "too large", although I have no size reference. I would guess this one would normally be classed as a Rhododendron. Flowers would help identify it.

As said before, all azalea are rhododendrons, and azalea has been dropped as a formal botanical distinction. There are intermediates all over the genus, so the traits of the "original concept of azalea" appear in many different unrelated sub-groups of Rhododendron.
But in "Original Concept" - What makes an azalea is the flowers are singles, or clustered but only up to 4 (I think, not totally sure of the count allowed?) in a cluster, or truss. Rhododendrons tend to have flowers anywhere from singles to clustered in a truss of up to 20. (I think, but not certain of the max count in a truss, and won't take the time to look it up)

So if you have one of the small leaf, less than 2 inches as bonsai (5.1 cm for the rest of the world), and relatively few flowers in a cluster or truss, I think it is fair game for the contest. I believe hybrids like R. 'Rampo' and 'Purple Gem' (R. fastigiatum x minus) or R. dauricum or any of the small leaf Rhododendrons, should be allowed to compete.

By the way, I have a R. x 'Purple Gem' and it does look a lot like a Satsuki, except the leaves are leathery, and curl up for the winter. Also the ramification is more coarse than a similar size Satsuki. I won't be entering it simply because it is more a landscape plant than a pot plant. ('Purple Gem' is winter hardy to -25 F or colder -32 C ).

 

[Woocash]

I went shopping for azalea’s today. I really loved the foliage of the ’Stewartsonian’ at this time of year and the flowers look like they’d be pretty nice too. They did seem to only be available with multiple plants per pot though (all the azaleas, not just this cultivar) so is that standard or should I be looking for individual plants instead?

 

[BuckeyeOne]

I have a couple that were bought this summer, but not touched other than watered.
Then there's this Satsuki bought last spring. Again no touchy, touchy. Only water.
Decisions, Decisions!!

 

[Pitoon]

I went shopping for azalea’s today. I really loved the foliage of the ’Stewartsonian’ at this time of year and the flowers look like they’d be pretty nice too. They did seem to only be available with multiple plants per pot though (all the azaleas, not just this cultivar) so is that standard or should I be looking for individual plants instead?

If you see a pot that you like but has multiple plants in it just keep what you want and remove what you don't want.

 

[Pitoon]

I have a couple that were bought this summer, but not touched other than watered.
Then there's this Satsuki bought last spring. Again no touchy, touchy. Only water.
Decisions, Decisions!!View attachment 273666

How does the trunk look?

 

[Woocash]

If you see a pot that you like but has multiple plants in it just keep what you want and remove what you don't want.

I did think that, but somehow it seems a waste of a 2 gallon pot when I only need a one gallon plant out of it. We’ll see. 5 years is a while to get some good growth going.

 

[Pitoon]

I did think that, but somehow it seems a waste of a 2 gallon pot when I only need a one gallon plant out of it. We’ll see. 5 years is a while to get some good growth going.

You didn't trim yet did you? For the contest you need to start with an uncut tree and best to prune is after the flowers drop.

 

[Woocash]

You didn't trim yet did you? For the contest you need to start with an uncut tree and best to prune is after the flowers drop.

Ah no! I’ve not even purchased it yet. I’ve done a bit of research though, into timings and the like so all is good thanks...for now. Should be fun

 

[Pitoon]

Ah no! I’ve not even purchased it yet. I’ve done a bit of research though, into timings and the like so all is good thanks...for now. Should be fun

With this being a 5yr project everyone's tree at the end of the contest should present itself well.

 

[Atom#28]

Above the leaves are "too leathery" and "too large"

thank you for your assistance! Yes, the plant I pictured has leathery leaves. The largest of them is only about 2" long. I have six other rhododendrons, each with 5"-7" leaves, which is why I wondered if this smaller-leaved variety may be an azalea.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

How does the trunk look?

I'll try and get a picture today!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

@JudyB @Brian Van Fleet
Interested in joining the contest? I know you both really dig azaleas. Your submission could help other members here to improve their skills working with azaleas.

Ok, I’m in...since you asked...and since someone dug one up and set it by the curb in my neighborhood.
It’s been sitting there for a few days, so we’ll see how “in” I am.

 

[Pitoon]

Ok, I’m in...since you asked...and since someone dug one up and set it by the curb in my neighborhood.
It’s been sitting there for a few days, so we’ll see how “in” I am.
View attachment 273742

Nice scoop it up......love it, hug it, squeeze it, and call it George!

 

[Pitoon]

I have several still in nursery pots. Need to look though them and see which is the best of the group.

I truly think some of us can produce some really decent shohin's in 5 yrs.

 

[TyroTinker]

Nice scoop it up......love it, hug it, squeeze it, and call it George!