Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  R. yedoense var. poukhanense 'Compacta'

Description:

A recent selection, this is a dwarf evergreen azalea with a compact mounded habit and pretty lilac-rose flowers in spring, an ideal garden choice; absolutely must have well-drained, highly acidic and organic soil, use plenty of peat moss when planting

Ornamental Features

Compact Korean Azalea is smothered in stunning clusters of lightly-scented lilac purple trumpet-shaped flowers with purple spots at the ends of the branches in mid spring before the leaves. It has forest green evergreen foliage. The narrow leaves turn an outstanding purple in the fall, which persists throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Compact Korean Azalea is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Compact Korean Azalea is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Compact Korean Azalea will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.