Flowers now? (identify help)

Can someone tell me what this is? I was told this is an azalea, but from my book this looks nothing like an azalea? Must be some acid loving plant. The soil if full of it.

Are those flowers heavily scented at all?

fiona wrote:Are those flowers heavily scented at all?

No, I dont smell anything. It kind of looks like the flower of a Roseofsharon. But the leaves are different. Thank you for your time.

Neil...

Yes, it's an azalea - like we told you when you asked before. And it actually looks exactly like an azalea

I really thought it would hold those buds until spring. Now as to the variety, that's the hard part and I really don't know. Since it's blooming now (the wrong time of year) I wonder if it isn't one of the florist/grocery store varieties which can be quite tender even here in Alabama. These are greenhouse grown Belgian hybrids that bloom heavily.

Some satsuki varieties - and American hybrids with satsuki parentage - do bloom in the fall, but the foliage doesn't look right to me.

Russell

I think i just look at to many award winning master pieces, and see the beautiful pinnk and white flowers and expect that. I bought it at the local "bonsai" nursury. Wow, the book also says there is more than 700 cultivars of rhododendron. I guess it will be hard to narrow down.

Looks like a kurume hybrid, I've noticed the latest commercial supermarket varieties have large leaves, that's here in Australia anyway. Seems like there is a new variety every second week.

Paul

Neil Jaeger wrote: I bought it at the local "bonsai" nursery.

What local bonsai nursery? I didn't know there was anything purporting to be a bonsai nursery in Buffalo. For a genuine bonsai nursery, go to Rochester. Hope to see you at the symposium next week.
Iris

bonsaisr wrote:

Neil Jaeger wrote: I bought it at the local "bonsai" nursery.

What local bonsai nursery? I didn't know there was anything purporting to be a bonsai nursery in Buffalo. For a genuine bonsai nursery, go to Rochester. Hope to see you at the symposium next week.
Iris

Yah. its not a "real" bonsai nursery. Its Mennies Nusery and they mostly sell annual plants an garden supplies. It was before i went to Hollow Creek. I will be getting most of my stuff from their from now on. Their store is AMAZING!! There must be thousands of pots, books and all bonsai supplies. Down the street is his trees, he is a very nice guy. He said to stop by anytime and walk through you dont have to buy anything.

Bonsaisr, what is the symposium next week? Is it at the hospital like the national was?

63pmp wrote:Looks like a kurume hybrid, I've noticed the latest commercial supermarket varieties have large leaves, that's here in Australia anyway. Seems like there is a new variety every second week.

Paul

Paul,

That's interesting you'd say Kurume, that was my first thought too. The foliage really does look like a Kurume, but I can't place the big, double white flower. Kurume hybrids aren't well suited for the coastal south (too hot) and the ones we do see have small leaves and flowers. I wouldn't rule out the Kurumes, but I don't have any good guesses either.

I just had a thought - maybe it's one of the new "Encore" hybrids that's sweeping through the South like a plague. They are bred to bloom almost all of the time, which could explain the flowers on Sept 1.

R

Hope to see you at the symposium next week.

Well, Iris, after I don't know HOW many years, you and I will finally meet! Jackie and I arrive on the 9th. I have a workshop on the 10th.

In between Bills gathering and Jackie's horsey meeting in Albany the next weekend, we're off to Montreal.

I really look forward to finally meeting you! (And any one else on the IBC who's gonna be there, too.)