Forsoothe's 2020-25 Five Year Azalea Contest race to the bottom...

[Forsoothe!]

Small and gonna get smaller... Azalea 'Silver Swords'...

What's inbetween Mame and Shohin called?

 

[Pitoon]

Nice!!! Welcome to the contest! Which one you plan to enter into the contest? I have silver sword cultivar I would say about 8 of them planted on my property. This year everyone single plant got leaf galls on them. I had to pick a ton of infected leaves off. They seem to be the weakest of all my azaleas.

 

[Forsoothe!]

If I can only have one, it will be 'Silver Sword'. I have one in the landscape and the foliage takes a beating every year, but it can be beautiful if small enough to protect entirely, as in like small as bonsai.

 

[Pitoon]

If I can only have one, it will be 'Silver Sword'. I have one in the landscape and the foliage takes a beating every year, but it can be beautiful if small enough to protect entirely, as in like small as bonsai.

You sure that's a silver sword cultivar? They are known for having variegated foliage and also being very narrow and pointy. I don't see it in your picture.

.....and yes only one entry, unless it dies you can replace it with a new entry.

 

[Forsoothe!]

You sure that's a silver sword cultivar? They are known for having variegated foliage and also being very narrow and pointy. I don't see it in your picture.

.....and yes only one entry, unless it dies you can replace it with a new entry.

The foliage on this has been frost damaged, so a lot of the outer leaves have been raked off by me. I don't think it's a 'Bollywood'

 

[Pitoon]

The foliage on this has been frost damaged, so a lot of the outer leaves have been raked off by me. I don't think it's a 'Bollywood'

You're right, I zoomed in and can see the inner leaves. Strange that the outter leaves are rounded?

 

[Forsoothe!]

I'll look closer at my landscape plant and compared the two tomorrow.

 

[Pitoon]

Here's a pic of my Silver Sword for reference.....note each and every leaf is pointed and not round.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Researching, I find maybe Silver Queen is the critter, has more irregular leaves. This was unlabeled, but had the best wood...

 

[Pitoon]

Researching, I find maybe Silver Queen is the critter, has more irregular leaves. This was unlabeled, but had the best wood...View attachment 304102

I like that shape. You plan to cut back the roots and repot as well?

 

[Forsoothe!]

I haven't looked at the roots yet. This had been frosted just like lots of other stuff locally, making for a shoppers field day to sort through stuff that looks like shit, but will survive, especially at 50% off in May! "It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good"

If the foliage looks good in late June I will repot to a size I want to finish at.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Little bit of clean up done today. I don't want everybody else to throw in the towel just yet, but what's the prize for first place?



I'd hate to see a lot of people waste their time.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Yep, maybe we all should step down now to avoid the rush?
DSD sends

 

[bunjin]

The 'Silver Queen' could be a Satsuki. There are about 15 variegated Satsukis and fewer than that have the type of foliage that is depicted in your photo. Without a photo of a bloom, it would be difficult to determine the exact cultivar.

 

[Forsoothe!]

I didn't buy it as such, it came from a big box and I have one in the landscape, too for ~7 or 8 years. Of course, if you insist that it's a Satsuki, who am I to complain? It is very compact. Here better views before deflowering...


Does that tell you anything?

 

[bunjin]

I did some research and would concur that it is R. Japonica 'Silver Sword'. Only two Satsukis are close as far as the foliage, and I have them in my collection and both are multi-color blooms, which eliminates them. According to a description of this cultivar, the foliage turns a reddish tint in the fall. It will be interesting to see if your azalea does this. Only a couple of my azaleas(Kurumes) turn color in the winter, but well, right now we don't even really freeze in the winter.

 

[Pitoon]

Little bit of clean up done today. I don't want everybody else to throw in the towel just yet, but what's the prize for first place?

I'd hate to see a lot of people waste their time.

As for prizes for the top three trees (voted by members of the forum) I am open for donations, but I was planning to give either a pot, stand, plant? Not sure as of yet.....I have 4.5yrs to still figure that out.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Status check...


still here.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Hi @Forsoothe! If you haven’t had a chance to yet, please to fill out the azalea media (substrate) poll.
My thanks and please disregard this note if you’ve already polled.
Cheers!
DSD sends

 

[Forsoothe!]

I hate to scare all you guys, but second flush buds are building for next spring, and I think I owe everybody a fair warning...