Japanese Azalea 'Schneesturm'

Japanese Azalea 'Schneesturm' (Rhododendron 'Schneesturm') lives up to its name in full: at the height of flowering the shrub disappears under a snow squall. Large pure-white flowers, up to 7 cm across, with wavy margins and a faint greenish blotch in the throat, cover it solidly and leave almost no gaps.

Choose it when a dark corner needs lightening, a path needs framing, or red and pink azaleas need a foil. In ten years the shrub spreads evenly to 0.65 m tall and 0.9 m wide, flowers from late May and takes frosts down to -24 °C. Among Japanese azaleas it is one of the few genuinely large-flowered white cultivars.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The name is German for "snowstorm", and at peak bloom the shrub really does vanish under solid white.
• Dimensions: In 10 years it forms a bush 0.65 m tall and 0.9 m wide.
• Hardiness: Hardy down to -24 °C (USDA zone 5b).
• Flowering: From late May to early June it covers itself in pure white flowers of 6.5-7 cm with a soft greenish blotch.
• Light: Happiest in partial shade or dappled light: morning sun, a little shade at midday and a snug spot sheltered from strong wind.
• Soil: Loves acidic soil at pH 5.0-5.5, rich in humus and evenly moist. The one thing it will not take is standing water, so good drainage is a must.
• Watering: Water moderately but regularly: the shallow roots dislike drying out and standing water in equal measure.
• Care: Mulch with bark or pine needles, leave the soil under the bush undisturbed, and trim the spent blooms right after flowering.
• Landscape use: Low edging, heather and rock gardens, underplanting for rhododendrons; lovely in groups and containers in partial shade.
• Origin: A white-flowered Hans Hachmann cultivar from 'Elsie Lee' x 'Purpurkissen' (1988), registered in 2001.