Japanese Satsuki Azalea 'Carnival ' 6 Inch Pre-Bonsai Tree

Species Name: Rhododendron indicum 'White Rosebud' / Alternate Name: 'Purity'
Common Name: Japanese Satsuki Azalea 'White Rosebud'
Estimated Age: About 4 - 5 Years
Average Height: About 8 - 9 Inches
Average Trunk Size: About 1/4 - 1/2 Inch
Pot Size: 4 Inch

Care Difficulty: Not So Easy

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: USDA Zone 6-9 [Click here to check what zone you're in!]
Light Exposure: Half Shade (Preferred) to Mostly Sun (Partial Shade is Okay During Afternoon)
Type: Evergreen and Flowering
Growth Speed: Slow
Growth Pattern: Upright and Compact
Special Attribute: Dwarf - Naturally stays more on the small size overall

The Japanese Satsuki is easily one of the most popular of flowering bonsai choices: featuring an excellent low, twiggy habit with lovely funnel shaped unscented flowers in primarily white, pink, red and purple shades. The Satsuki is identified by two blossoms on the end of the branch shoots plus they also have slightly hairy leaves budding out freely from even fairly old bark wood. Most of them have compact branches and are slow growing. They usually have bright to medium green shiny oval shaped leaves with a soft pointed end. Even though they tolerate colder climates better, they are sensitive to high heat temperatures and require some shade to protect it from leaf burn and petal burn from the sun. Great to take care of indoors!

'White Rosebud' is an interesting cultivar with pure white color with exceptional double layer petals. When they are halfway to partially open, the Azalea flowers looks similar to that of Rose flowers, hence it's straightforward name. It's sometimes refered to by its old alternate name of 'Purity'.

In general, they enjoy more acidic soil (such as Kanuma at around pH level 5.5 to 6) with good drainage to let its fine feeder roots breathe. Satsuki Azaleas don't enjoy being soaked all of the time. An infrequent deep soaking is more effective than superficial sprinkling everyday. Please water them thoroughly from top to bottom to fully saturate the soil to help keep the soil moist but not soggy. They don't enjoy dry soil nor lime. It becomes especially important in hard-water areas to water them with rainwater or filtered water only to avoid lime deposits building up in the soil.

As needed, a fungicidal spray in the spring time as the buds show color will control “petal blight”, a fungal disease that appears as discolored dots on the petals and quickly discolors and collapses the blossoms. To avoid cutting off next year’s flower buds, do major pruning of Satsuki Azaleas soon after they bloom. Shortening or removal of long slender stems with no side shoots and cutting out dead wood may be done at any time.

Depending on the individual tree, the Japanese Satsuki Azaleas may have either a single trunk or multi trunk look to them. It's a 6 inch tree size.