unknown azalea

order: ericales
family: ericaceae
genus: rhododendron
species: ??

First Story

---

7 may 2015

flower closeup 2015.

In 2013, we drove all the way from Germany down to the Tuscany and spent a week there. Before arriving at our final destination, we made a stop and stayed overnight at a Swiss city along Lago Maggiore, called Locarno. In this region, azaleas seem to be one of the most common plants in private gardens and on the streets. It was April when we were there and it was just the perfect time for azalea fans to visit. Everywhere you could see round bushes covered with colourful flowers.

In front of our hotel, there is a hedge made up of two different types of azalea. Their leaves are so minute, I swear they are less than 5mm across. One has scarlet flowers, the other has a colour between fuchsia and magenta. They're truely admirable.

After the dinner and plenty of vino at the italian restaurant (obviously) in the city centre, it started to pour for as long as we walked back to our hotel. When we reached our hotel, I thought I could take some cuttings and try to propagate. Since the plant was well soaked in water, I thought I might have a chance to make it happen despite the week ahead in italy. I made sure to remove all flowers to reduce water evaporation. I tried to get one cutting for each type of azalea but because it was completely dark, I couldn't be sure what I got.

Once back in the room, the first thing I did was cut open an empty plastic bottle in the mid-section to make a mini-conservatory for the cuttings. They're probably just slightly more than 5cm long, which made it easy to put into the bottle. Since I didn't have any soil, I used a piece of tissue paper as the growing medium. Besides I had for some time wanted to do experiment with it. My hypothesis for the experiment was that tissue paper has a very strong absorption power, so if I wrap it around the cut end of the twigs, it will be like an extensive rootball for the new plants, until they grow new roots. I dipped the whole "rootball" into a small pond of water in the bottle so it became completely saturated.

The next day I managed to gather some moss to put around the leaves, which further reduce evaporation. For the whole week we were in Italy, I left the bottle with the cap removed on a shaded corner of our balcony. The twigs looked as fresh as the moment I cut them down throughout the entire journey and til I got home. I was really happy that I could do some gardening away from home and have something as a souvenir, that is if the twigs root successfully.

When the limbs arrived home safely, I immediately prepared a pot with ericaceous soil. I carefully transferred the entire "rootball" into the potted soil, meaning, I didn't remove the tissue paper. By the end of May I started to notice new leaves sprouting. I was so touched by the sight. I knew exactly it meant roots were growing underneath. It's the most perfectly maneuvered propagation by cutting. That year was spent mainly to grow new roots and photosynthesize.

In the following year, the plants grew tremendously and amassed a lot of energy. Strong shoots and compact roots were indication of good health. By the end of winter flower buds became evident. And when spring broke I finally got to see what I've got. Apparently both cuttings are from the magenta/fuchsia type. The flowers grow in compact umbels, with each flower only 1cm across. On closer inspection, I realised the flowers are double, like, literally double sets of corollas with one tucked inside the other and rotated at an angle so that each petal is visible. I learned that this kind of arrangement is called "hose-in hose", technically not a double flower. The colour itself is simple and beautiful, what more can I say?

After the flower I definitely have to pot up several sizes as the plants have become seriously root-bound. I have the feeling that this azalea is going to be a lot more vigorous than my other ones despite its smaller leaf size. And finally, I hope somebody will tell me which species or cultivar this is. Hint: common in Locarno.

spring 2015.