Japanese Azalea 'Melina'

Japanese Azalea 'Melina' (Rhododendron obtusum 'Melina') is a low cushion of flowers that vanishes completely beneath its blooms in late May. The fully double purple-pink flowers, with prettily waved edges, sit in twos to fours at the shoot tips and look like miniature rosettes of a rose.

Flowering carries on into mid-June, and for the rest of the year the little bush holds dark grey-green glossy foliage, as the cultivar is evergreen. At 10 years it is only about 30 cm tall and 60 cm wide, so this is a front-of-border plant: for beds, heather and Japanese gardens, slopes and containers.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The petals of this cultivar developed from stamens: 12-15 of them fill a flower 4.5-5.5 cm across, which is why it looks like a miniature rose rosette.
• Dimensions: At 10 years it is a dense low cushion 30 cm tall and 60 cm wide.
• Hardiness: It winters confidently down to -25 °C (USDA zone 5).
• Flowering: From late May to mid-June it opens double purple-pink flowers.
• Light: It is happiest in partial or dappled shade, sheltered from strong wind: full sun scorches the leaves.
• Soil: It loves acid soil (pH 5.0-5.5), humus-rich and moisture-retentive, but well drained.
• Watering: Water moderately and evenly: the surface roots must not dry out, and it will not tolerate standing water.
• Care: Mulch with bark or pine needles, do not cultivate the soil, and snap off spent flower heads right after flowering.
• Landscape use: Lovely in masses, groups and as a specimen in heather, woodland and shady gardens, in borders and containers.
• Origin: A German cultivar from the Hachmann nursery.