Kurume Azalea
Kurume azaleas are compact evergreen hybrids noted for dense branching and masses of small early spring flowers. Plants fit small gardens and formal hedges and are widely adapted in the Southeast and mid‑Atlantic. Growth is slow to moderate with a mounded outline that often spreads as much as it grows tall. Kurumes are among the more cold‑hardy evergreen azaleas. They flower before many other groups and can finish before warm‑season pests peak. Provide partial shade, acidic soil, and steady moisture for best displays.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Kurume Hybrids (evergreen)
- Height × spread: 2-6 ft × 2-5 ft (0.6-1.8 m × 0.6-1.5 m) depending on selection
- Bloom window: late March to mid April (varies by climate)
- Color & flower form: small, abundant flowers; red, pink, white; mostly single
- Fragrance: 0 to 1; varies by cultivar
- USDA hardiness: USDA zones 6 to 9
- Breeder / Year / Origin: various; imported 1919 by E. H. Wilson; Japan to USA
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Lower, denser habit with fine leaves and twiggy branching.
- Among the earliest evergreen azaleas to flower.
- More cold hardy than many evergreen groups.
- Flowers are smaller but produced in great numbers.
Strengths
- Reliable bloom in cool springs.
- Compact size for low hedges and foundations.
- Cold tolerance suitable for many Zone 6 sites.
- Good structure even out of flower.
Care in one minute
- Plant in light shade or morning sun with afternoon shade.
- Soil: acidic 4.5-6.0, high in organic matter; plant slightly high and mulch.
- Water to keep soil evenly moist; avoid waterlogging.
- Feed lightly after bloom; excessive fertilizer reduces flowering.
- Shear or shape immediately after flowering if a tight hedge is desired.
Watch‑outs
- Lace bug and leafminer can blemish foliage in sun.
- Root rot on sites without sharp drainage.
- Flowers can be brief in sudden heat.
Best uses (tags)
low hedges, foundations, borders, containers, early season, shade‑tolerant
Provenance note
Kurume selections were assembled over centuries around Kurume, Kyushu, Japan; E. H. Wilson introduced the famous “Wilson Fifty” to the Arnold Arboretum in 1919 for U.S. distribution.
References
- Clemson HGIC – Azalea Planting (Kurume notes)
- UGA Extension – Selecting and Growing Azaleas (Kurume)
- Arnold Arboretum – 1917-1919 Expedition (Wilson’s Kurume introductions)
- ASPCA – Azalea (Rhododendron spp.) toxicity
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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