Multipetalous Korean azalea (Rhododendron yedoense) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Korean azalea is a garden shrub with pink-purple or white spring flowers. Its many-petaled form was described first, while the single-flowered form commonly grown in U.S. gardens belongs to the same species. Korean azalea contains toxic substances, so its leaves and flowers should not be eaten.

Appearance

Appearance: It is a spreading to shrub. The commonly grown Korean form reaches about 3–6 ft (0.9–1.8 m) tall and can spread 6–12 ft (1.8–3.7 m) wide.
Flowers: Clusters of two to four funnel-shaped flowers open in spring. The commonly grown Korean form usually has pink-purple flowers with a darker blotch, while white forms also occur.
Flowering time: In U.S. gardens, the single-flowered Korean form blooms in April and May.
Fruit: Single-flowered forms can make dry . The many-petaled cultivated form described in Korean references does not set fruit.

Look-alikes

royal azaleaRhododendron schlippenbachii

Royal azalea is taller, with pale pink single flowers and leaves that seem to circle the branch tips. The familiar double-flowered Korean azalea has many more petals and grows lower and wider.

Why they get mixed upBoth are deciduous East Asian azaleas with pink spring flowers.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: woodland gardens
shrub borders
hedges
Range: The species is native from southwestern China and northern Myanmar to Korea and southern Japan. In the United States, it is grown as an ornamental, especially through f. poukhanense and its selections.
Preferred conditions: Grow it in partial or dappled shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained acidic soil. Shelter it from drying winter wind and do not let the roots sit in water.
Flowering: Flowers Apr–May
Flowers Apr–May

Growing it

Propagation: Single-flowered garden plants can grow from seed or stem cuttings. The fruitless double-flowered form is propagated from plant parts such as cuttings.
Toxicity: Korean azalea contains toxic substances. Do not eat its leaves or flowers.

Name and classification

About the name: Older gardening references may call the single-flowered Korean azalea poukhanense.
Varieties and forms: Plants sold as Korean azalea may have pink-purple or white flowers, and named compact selections are also grown.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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