Facts about Saotome Azalea

[John(JP)]

Again thank you all for the input and despite the "clear and normally undeniable photographic evidence" from Watto I'm going to go with Sao Tome do not flower - not even in Bungendore.

Notwithstanding
(a) is it a variety of Satsuki - I cannot find any reference to confirm that
(b) is there any expert information on Sao Tome
(c) I'm gathering it's treated like any other Azalea except the little mongrel doesn't flower

John(JP)
CBS

[shibui]

I'm gathering it's treated like any other Azalea

Yes. but can be clipped more often and any time of year without worrying about sacrificing spring flowers.

Bonsai Art lists Sao To Me as a Satsuki cultivar even though it is non flowering.
However as Satsuki translates to flowering in the 5th month then Sao to me probably shouldn't be included as it doesn't flower (much) at all. Maybe just the breeding and parents are similar to Satsuki>
In any case it doesn't really matter what group it belongs to, all azalea are very similar as far as cultivation goes.

[joannm]

Whilst Saotome are considered not to flower it is not completely true,
I have been growing them for about 15 years myself and have never seen a flower.
There was someone who did have flowers on one after growing it for 12years.unfortunately he never took a photo and is long gone himself.
They are extremely good for taking cuttings anytime of the year. I have had great success in creating new plants .
What I did find though was when I originally cut this one back in a major restyle the leaves came back much larger and a totally brighter green .
It’s ready to be pruned again .

[John(JP)]

Thank you again guys

John(JP)
CBS

[ClaudiaSimpson]

hello hello. I'm new here.

[Albo]

I’m liking playing around with Saotome.
Nice leaf size, they seem to develop nice Nabari by themselves and from what I’ve seen so far they are pretty tough.
I liked this twin trunk At the nursery. I spent an hour repotting with minimal root reduction and a bit of branch placement/selection. I was doing it for a Xmas gift but I like it so much im grinching it for myself Will see what I can get out if it with some refinement over a couple of years.