Rhododendrons

Rhododendron ‘Orange Beauty’

Evergreen azalea hybrid

Parentage unknown

Japan before 1915. Introduced to the USA before 1920

Synonym: ‘Tsuta Momiji’

H6

A low growing shrub to 0.5m in height in 10 years

Flowers: Trusses of 1-2 funnel shaped, single flowers; vivid red-orange with deeper spotting on the dorsal lobe; 5 stamens; filaments red

April-mid-May

Not scented

Foliage: Obovate to elliptic shaped, dark green leaves. The leaves are relatively small and hairy with bristle toothed margins; dimorphic. Evergreen

Other Information: Azalea ‘Orange Beauty’, as described above, is a Kurume hybrid and was introduced to the USA by the Domoto brothers before 1920. Its synonym ‘Tsuta Momiji’ may lead to confusion with a Kurume azalea of the same name which is one of the Wilson 50 azaleas. Easy to grow. Limited commercial availability

This form of R. ‘Orange Beauty’ flowers earlier than its Kaempferi namesake but there is an overlap in the flowering time. The comparison photograph shows flowers of both forms and their differences