Azalea japonica Orange Beauty

Japanese Azalea Orange Beauty is an excellent orange variety. It is a hardy, floriferous plant with a dense and well-balanced shape. In spring, the shrub is covered in a mass of orange flowers washed with salmon pink. There are so many that they almost cover the light green leaves. Its rounded shape looks wonderful in ericaceous beds, along pathways, or in front of larger shrubs and its autumn-coloured blooms add a unique touch to partially shaded areas. Japanese Azaleas merit the changes needed to create the conditions they prefer: they thrive in partial shade, in consistently moist, lime-free soil. 

The Rhododendron kaempferi Orange Beauty is an old Dutch variety bred by C.B. van Nes, dating back to 1920. It is a medium-size, well-rounded variety. This slow-growing plant will reach approximately 1 x 1m (3 ft 4 in x 3 ft 4 in) by the age of 10. It has countless funnel-shaped flowers, 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter, in April-May in an average climate.  The corollas consist of 5 slightly wavy, satin, oval petals, ranging from orange to deep salmon pink. The centre of the flower has long, darker orange stamens. These flowers are grouped in terminal clusters of 3 to 5. The evergreen foliage consists of small, simple, oval leaves with smooth edges, arranged alternately on the branches. They are glossy and fairly light green. Azaleas and Rhododendrons have a shallow root system that always needs to be kept moist, but they also dislike waterlogged soil which would suffocate the roots.

Japanese Azaleas thrive in humid and cool climates with distinct winters, planted in humus-rich, ericaceous soil.They are a perfect accompaniment to heathers, Japanese maples, or their relatives, Chinese Azaleas, which change colour with the seasons. Combine them with quinces and Japanese camellias, as well as their graceful, often fragrant, autumn-flowering cousins, the Camellia sasanqua hybrids. This Orange Beauty variety, a glorious ball of flamboyance in spring, will be a sensation on the terrace or balcony. Plant it in a large, carefully chosen pot in suitable soil and water with lime-free water.