Japanese Azalea Sylvester

The 'Sylvester' Japanese Azalea, a small evergreen bush from the large family of Rhododendrons, is striking because of its particularly luminous two-tone pink flowers. Its small trumpet-shaped spring flowers, with a silver-pink exterior and deep pink heart, almost completely cover its foliage with a very intense pink coat. This hardy, small-sized shrub also boasts dense foliage that remains attractive all year round. Japanese Azaleas are wonderful in pots on the terrace or as border plants. They merit the changes needed to create their preferred conditions: they thrive in partial shade, in a lime-free soil that is always moist.

The hybrid Rhododendron Sylvester is part of a series of evergreen hybrids derived from the Kurume Rhododendron. This group of azaleas, the result of 300 years of selection in Japan, takes its name from the Japanese city of Kirin. These plants have small, tough foliage and are known for their resistance, adaptability, prolific flowering, and vibrant colours. Their complex genealogy most likely includes the Asian species Rhododendron kaempferi , R . kiusianum, as well as various Japanese species and old hybrids. It is generally advisable to protect them from extreme cold. 'Sylvester' is, however, hardy down to -20°C (-4 °F).

'Sylvester' is a modest-sized variety, with a very rounded habit. The plant will reach approximately 80 cm (31.5 in) in height and spread by the age of 10, depending on the growing conditions. The bush will not exceed 1.10 m (3.61 ft) even after many years, as it is slow-growing. It usually starts flowering in April, or even early May depending on the climate. It consists of countless small trumpet-shaped flowers with a corolla of satin petals in a light, bright pink. The flower's heart is a deeper pink and has long stamens of the same dark pink color. These flowers are gathered in terminal clusters of 3 to 5. The foliage, evergreen when the plant grows in shaded conditions, tends to be partially deciduous in a sunny position. It is composed of small, simple leaves measuring 2 to 3 cm (0.8 - 1.2 in), ovate, with smooth edges, arranged alternately on the branches. They are rather deep green in colour, whilst the young leaves that appear after flowering are a beautiful 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 them.

Japanese Azaleas thrive in humid and cool climates, with distinct winters, planted in humus-rich, acidic soil, such as ericaceous soil. In these conditions, they are very attractive evergreen shrubs for flowerbeds or containers all year round. They harmonize beautifully with heathers, Japanese maples, or their Chinese counterparts that change their colours with the seasons. Combine them with Japanese camellias and their graceful, often fragrant, autumn-flowering cousins, the Camelia sasanqua hybrids. This Sylvester variety, forming a mound covered with intense pink flowers, will be splendid on the terrace or balcony, in a large,  chosen pot, planted in suitable soil and watered with lime-free water.