Satsuki Azalea Tsuki no Shimo

[Mellow Mullet]

This is one of my favorites and it is fixing to bloom. Just thought that I would share.

 

[Vin]

Very cool leaves.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Thanks, I like the way they curl up.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

She finally bloomed

This one has been teasing me all week, finally decided to give me a peek today. Tsuki no Shimo is supposed to translate into "frost of the moon" and I think that accurately and poetically captures the essence of this flower. They kinda have a sparkly look to them, it is difficult to capture on camera. It used to have a longer cascade but squirrels chewed it off. I hate those little bastards!!

 

[Cadillactaste]

Very cool leaves.

I was thinking the same thing... lovely blooms as well.

 

[Beng]

As pretty as the flowers are your tree is sick unfortunately. I've had curling leaves like this on a few satsuki's in the past. It usually precedes a portion or the entire tree dying when they're curled as severely as yours. I believe it's due to a root issue.

Ben

 

[iant]

Some varieties of satsuki do the leaf curl thing as part of their natural habit. I don't know if this is one of those varieties but it doesn't necessarily mean the plant is on it's way out. If you look under Azleas.org they describe some having downcurved leaf edges and some upcurved and some not curved. If their search was working you can even specify that characteristic in the search under the "leaf edge" tab.
Ian

 

[Beng]

Some varieties of satsuki do the leaf curl thing as part of their natural habit. I don't know if this is one of those varieties but it doesn't necessarily mean the plant is on it's way out. If you look under Azleas.org they describe some having downcurved leaf edges and some upcurved and some not curved. If their search was working you can even specify that characteristic in the search under the "leaf edge" tab.
Ian

I could see that but those are rolling. I've had them roll and i've seen significant portions dying. Maybe there's one that rolls and is healthy as well i'm sure I haven't seen anywhere near every species!

 

[Harunobu]

巻葉 cultivar

 

[iant]

巻葉 cultivar

What he said!

Actually I like the flowers on this one too and I found it at an azalea nursery in Sonoma and they describe the foliage as curly. Not to beat a dead horse but just thought I'd update this one. Scroll down to Tsuki no Shimo.

http://www.sonomahort.com/azalea.htm#t

Ian

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Thanks for the comments. It is completely healthy, the curling leaves are a trait of this cultivar. It will, on occasion, throw out a couple of flat leaves and I usually cut them off.

John

 

[Mellow Mullet]

She is really putting on a show

I came home from work to this, a wonderful reprieve from a not so great Monday. Check out the last picture, I love the buds, they kinda remind me of Christmas, the shape reminds me of the good old fashioned Christmas lights, before it was all ruined by the government and LEDs.

 

[Vin]

Without a doubt one of the prettiest azalea flowers I've seen! Well done mother nature, well done..

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Thanks, Vince, mother nature sure knew what she was doing, you are right. I think that this might be my new favorite.

John

 

[Mellow Mullet]

In Full Bloom Now...

I think that this one is my favorite, it is at peak now and I hate to see it fade.

 

[GrimLore]

Stunning!

Grimmy