AusBonsai

Hi everyone,

Attached a photo of what has to be an Azalea, but I can't find out anything about it. It had no label when I bought it. The leaves are incredibly small. For comparison I am also attaching a photo of my Azalea sao to me, the flowering variety (yes, that does exist), which has very small leaves, but they are not nearly as tiny as the first plant. That one has new growth, but nothing that looks like flower buds. Does anyone here know about that Azalea? I'd be grateful for some info.

Lisa

Trying to keep my question above the plimsol line for a while. Weekends always bring high waves of posts.

No idea but the foliage looks really tight to me much closer together like a buxus

Lets see what the experts come upwith

Ken

Hi Lisa,
I am not an expert.
Have you considered this plant maybe being a "true" form of mini rhododendron?

Hi Lisa,

Definitely no expert but here are to of my young Azalea's. One is a flowering type (on right in double pic) and one isn't (on left double pic and pic by itself). Looks similar to yours. Very similar to buxus too I guess. See what you or others think.

Mitchell

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Hi Lisa, you got this one without a tag? What makes you think it’s an Azalea? I have seen compact growth similar to yours on some Azalea’s however to me the bark is just not right. I have a lot of Azaleas and not one of them has bark like yours.
On one of your photo’s to the left there is something red? Is it a flower buried in the growth or just dead leaves.
Whatever it is it looks very healthy, I’m not convinced it’s an Azalea though. You will have to wait and see if it flowers next year.
Cheers
Kirky

Many thanks for your replies, everyone. Mitch, I think your Azaleas might be Kurumes. Kirky, I'll check the bark of my mystery shrub and compare it to that of my for-certain Azaleas. I roamed the Internet, searching for cultivars of Kurume sao tome, but without success. If it is not an Azalea, I have no clue as to what else it could be.

I'll get back to you guys if ever there is a solution.

Lisa

I'd suggest seeing if you could knock the pot off and have a good look at the roots. Azalea roots are extremely fibrous and not many other species are so that could be a good indication. If it is something like buxus it'll have noticeably thick new roots. Hopefully that helps.

Hi Lisa, you could also try taking it to a nursery, you may get lucky and have it id. Wouldn't bother with the likes of the green shed type places.
Cheers
Kirky

Hello all,

Well, the mystery is solved! It's a satsuki Azalea. A friend of mine has an identical one, styled as bonsai, and hers is flowering. The flowers are very small as well, though bigger than the leaves, and of a vivid pink. The bark is the same on both shrubs. A pity I didn't have a camera with me. -- We still don't know the name, though!

Lisa

check this website and compare your friend's azalea flower. http://bonsaiart.com.au/satsuki-azalea-stock-list/

Thanks, bki, that is a great website. I've bookmarked it. Shall be back here when my babe finally flowers. If ever....

Lisa

Yep.
Definitely looks azalea to me.
There are a heap of azalea varieties, I've an absolute tiny one (name escapes me).
As linked above bonsai art has a heap of rare / exotic varieties.

Mystery no longer a mystery. Name still unknown, though.
Here is that puzzling small tree beginning to flower. Those flowers look a lot like those of the sao to me.
Thanks all for your interest and replies.

Lisa

looks very simular to the 50 of so I have in the garden and 4 I have pre-bonsai all from the same plant a Satsuki azealea from Cambewarra bonsai. Flowering atm . Ill try to get a pic of the flowers .