We carry a variety of named Satsuki Azalea cultivars at Appalachian Plantworks, including many rare selections. Hands down one of the most striking of flowering bonsai, the Satsuki Azalea is basally dominant - meaning it favors low, twiggy branching habit. With time, they easily develop striking bases with exceptional nebari. We primarily carry varieties with more subtle flowers in the white, pink, and light purple shades - usually with color gradients across the flower. Satsukis are dwarfs, so they grow slower than most of their evergreen cousins!
Note: the trees pictured are representative examples and will not be the exact trees you receive. Some may have wire for movement or branch placement.
Specifications:
Scientific name: Rhododendron indicum
Height: 5"-12"
Trunk: 1/8"-3/8"
Hardness Zone: 6b-9
Sizing Notes:
Regular Starts are 2-3 years old, often with narrower caliper and less branching. Some have been pruned to be single trunk, but most have been untouched.
Premium Starts are 3-4 years old with the associated increase in caliper and branching. Some have been pruned for bonsai to be single trunk.
Premium+ Starts are 3-5 years old with the fullest branching and thickest caliper trunks. Many have been pruned to be single trunk, but some are still in bush form.
Cultivars:
Chojuho: Very unique and small deep red flowers changing to strong reddish-orange to brownish-greenish-orange. Prominent stamens.
Daishuhai: Standout 2.5-3" flowers are a deep yellowish-pink to scarlet-red with a large lighter to white center and small scarlet-red blotch.
Gunbi: Variable white to light pink with reddish-purplish sectors, stripes OR white with purplish-red blotch.
Hakatajiro: a stunning cultivar known for its white flowers with a beautiful green throat.
Higasa: Dwarf satsuki with huge 3-4" purplish-pink blooms with prominent reddish-purple blotch.
Izayoi: Old Japanese cultivar with 2-3" light purple-pink flowers with a prominent dark red speckle swatch near center.
Joga: Gorgeous 2-3" flowers white to pink-red gradient speckles in center.
Mai Hime: Highly variable: white with sectors and selfs of light or strong purplish-pink, some with white margins. 2.5-3" blooms.
Matsu Kagami: Very unique cultivar; strong coral sectors, stripes, and speckles flashes of pink 2-2.5" flowers.
Momo no Haru: Very dwarf variety that blooms vivid 1-1.5" deep purplish-pink flowers with a small white throat; great bonsai cultivar
Nikko: Ultra-dwarf and very popular for bonsai. Variable small peach-pink flowers with green throat.
Shinnyo no Tsuki: Old cultivar; lowers bicolor: white with vivid purplish-red margins.
Shugetsu: One of our favorites and a common bonsai subject. Flowers bicolor: white or blush center with vivid purplish-red border.
Yamato: Highly variable with 3 distinct flowers: 1) white with deep pink stripes and lines, pale yellow-green blotch; 2) light pink with irregular white margins and dark red blotch; 3) deep pink solids
