Kurume Azaleas

[Hackimoto]

A variety of Kurumes are out in flower at the moment Here is a pic of just some of the ones that I have collected over the years,mainly for Bonsai use but some are garden plants (at the moment, but nothing is safe) $1coin for comparison, as is the large Southern Indica, Splendens or Alphonse Anderson.

[Damian Bee]

Nice work Hacki.

Do you know the varieties? I can spot a Kirin, a Red Robin, a Wards Ruby and what looks like Asawa?
Are you growing them or just admiring?

Kurume varieties make excellent Bonsai, they rival and even trump the Satsuki.
Big claim there and not entirely correct but we are comparing Granny Smith Apples with Fuji Apples there

[alpineart]

Hi Hackimoto , looks like you have a good selection. I had an entire 50 meter terrace personally designed and set with 70 different Karumes , indica's and Satsuki's when i move here . Over time and the wisdom of horticultural experts a lot died . I was told 15 years ago to feed them with Dynamic lifter . Its a big No No with azalea's , you could say a very valuable lesson was learned . I have removed the last 30 odd and they began a new life as Azalea's trainers . Thanks for posting and for the inspiration to get out there and check them out .

Cheers Alpine

[Diane]

Your garden must be a blaze with colour.

[Hackimoto]

Agreed. My sentiments exactly! Flower size is more conducive to Bonsai, growth is more compact. Yes, I have them all, some as Bonsai. Some of them I know the variety names. From the top row, left to right, some names not sure or what I bought them as.

Jill Seymour-- Alphonse A.--Fiery Boy??
Red Robin--Snow Flake--Next two are from same plant found in Melb Bot Gardens 30 yrs ago, No name.
Kirin--don't know--single red ?--tiny single pink?--Ward's Ruby
Debutante?-- Hino de Giri--Paradise Pink--Dollar Coin-- Paradise Purple.

Damien, you seen to be quite familiar with Kurumes, if you can name any of them or correct any I would be most appreciative.


Alpine, if you have any not listed I'd be interested in what they are.
Jeff

[Hackimoto]

Re. question for Damian above.

[Damian Bee]

Hi there, I will do some looking for you in a bit, flat out with some pressing tasks just now, patience young grasshopper patience

[alpineart]

Hi Hackimoto , mate these are 3 of the labels that survived in the garden after 17 years , Auntie Mame , Mrs Kint , Rosa Belton . Some are beginning to flower now so i will make a photo gallery of them as bonsai and try to identify them as i did have a plan and list of names for all the placements of the Azalea' in the terraces but over time all has been lost .

Cheers Alpine

[Damian Bee]

As best I can with the photos here are my descriptions. Please refer to Hackimoto's original photo for a better look.

DSCF0842.JPG

1 Red robin or little red riding hood
2 Mrs Kint?
3 Fred Colbert or Kirishima
4 Kirin
5 Salmon Queen
6 Red robin or little red riding hood
7 Asawa
8 Aioi or Kinjo tana
9 Apple blossom
10 ?
11 Aya kammuri
12 Wards Ruby
13 Cherry Blossom
14 Hinomayo
15 Asa gasumi?

Without leaves it is a little hard to tell but I hope this gets you started mate.
The big one and the gold thing we know

[bodhidharma]

Number 3 A Kurume..Christmas cheer

[Hackimoto]

Thanks Damian for all your trouble, I really appreciate it. If nothing else what I got out of that, is not to put much reliability on common names when I did a search on Google images. In English they seem to change from locality to locality and in Japanese there seems to be many different azaleas with the same Japanese name. I think I will just stick to the names that I know are locally correct and just label the others as to where I obtained them and my own given names. Too hard basket and I guess, does it really matter? Anyway I picked up another 10 or so varieties today (cuttings) from a local gardener who of course didn't know the names.

Bodhi, not Christmas Cheer as that one is too big and I have Cheer, but thanks for the suggestion

[Damian Bee]

Number 3 A Kurume..Christmas cheer

Christmas cheer generally has more simple edges and is a smaller flower than Kirin. #3 is more likely to be Fred Colbert or something else again. Kirishima has more pointed lobes.
big time. Sorry Bodhi, you copped a double whammy there

[Damian Bee]

I really appreciate it. If nothing else what I got out of that, is not to put much reliability on common names when I did a search on Google images. In English they seem to change from locality to locality and in Japanese there seems to be many different azaleas with the same Japanese name. I think I will just stick to the names that I know are locally correct

In general, Kurume Azalea have only one common name in Australia. There are a couple of exceptions such as Kirin which is also sold as Coral Bells and Daybreak. This may either be an attempt to market the plant by a particular grower in the past by branding it as some growers are doing now with varieties of manchurian pear. Other varieties are sometimes sold as either their original Japanese name or as again a label such as which is also sold as Penelope.

It can be a never ending story, there are literally hundreds of Kurume varieties available in Australia, some of which are out of production and some which are mislabelled by inexperienced nursery staff.

Post up your others so we can have a crack at those too

[Hackimoto]

Thanks Damian, The ones that I am sure? of are
13 Jill Seymour
2 Snowflake
4 Kirin
9 Debutante
10 Hino de Giri.
12 Wards Ruby
1 and 6 are either Red Riding Hood or Red Robin.
3 Fiery Boy.
That is what the labels stated when I bought them. Names may be archaic as some are 20 odd years old.

7 & 8 are from the same bush and open as different shades of pink and white. Do you work in the nursery industry?
I'll post some more when I can. Thanks for all your help.
Jeff

[Damian Bee]

#3 Fiery boy is a Belgian or Indica hybrid.
#13 Jill Seymour is a Kurume hybrid bred in Australia