Original Species of Kurume Azalea

The main parental species of Kurume Azalea are Rhododendron kaempferi, R. kiusianum and R.sataense. In the Kirishima Mountains, the vermilion-flowered R. kaempferi, distributed in the foot of the mountains crossed with the purple-flowered R. kiusianum, distributed in the top of the mountains. Natural hybrids of two species can be found at intermediate elevations where the two species co-habit, with flowers that are purplish red and reddish purple (figure below). R. sataense is distributed in the Osumi and Satsuma Peninsulas, and the color of flowers is usually purplish red, but occasionally vermilion or purple. It is presumed that these wild azaleas distributed in southern Kyushu Island are used as parents for cross-fertilization in the early stage of the Kurume Azalea breeding.

Only R. kiusianum has 5-methyl flavonol (flower pigment) among all three species, R. kaempferi, R. kiusianum and R.sataense. This pigment is detected in purple- and reddish purple-flowered cultivars of Kurume Azalea.

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In addition, some cultivars (e.g. Tagonoura) have morphological characteristics that are typical of R. macrosepalum and R. ripense. R. macrosepalum and/or R. ripense are the parental species of four Japanese evergreen azalea groups, Ryukyu Azalea, Mochi Azalea, Okirishima Azalea and Oyama Azalea. Several cultivars belonging to these four groups were recorded in gardening books published about 300 years ago and Kurume Azalea were created about 170 years ago. It is thought that the cultivars derived from R. macrosepalum and/or R. ripense are used as the parents of the Kurume Azalea breeding.

Extant Varieties of Kurume Azalea

Bred in the Edo Period

Akebono, Agemaki, Azumakagami, Anzaitakamakie, Inazuma, Imaoka, Ukamuse, Usugumo, Usuyukari, Oginoodorikarako, Otome, Kakko, Kyuseikai, Kyumiyagino, Kiritsubo, Kumokiri, Kumonoue, Kurainohimo, Kurenoyuki, Koasobi, Kokinran, Koshikibu, Kocho, Kochonomai, Komurasaki, Goshozakura, Gofuku, Saotome, Sakurakomachi, Sakuratsukasa, Shikibuzakura, Shinonome, Shakkyo, Susogonoito, Sekiyo, Setanoirihi, Takasago, Takamakie, Tagasode, Tagonoura, Tamanoutena, Tamafuyo, Tamayukari, Chiyonoakebono, Tsuten, Tsutamomiji, Terugimi, Narumigasane, Neriginu, Hatsune, Hanaikada, Higashiyama, Bijinsui, Fudesuteyama, Matsunoyuki, Madonotsuki, Misunouchi, Miyakoshibori, Momozono, Yamatonishiki, Yukinokoma, Yozakura, Yoshinoyama, Yorozuyo, Rangyoku, Wakakaede (66 cultivars)

Bred in the Meiji era

Aioi, Ainoshima, Asagasumi, Asahizuru, Asahinosora, Asahinominato, Atsumizakura, Azumagata, Ademurasaki, Ayanishiki, Ayanokammuri, Ayahime, Ayafukushibori, Aratama, Izumikawa, Itten, Itsukushima, Imashojo, Irohayama, Iwatokagami, Ukihashi, Utsurika, Enosugata, Ezonishiki, Oinomezame, Ogigasane, Oshokun, Ouchijishi, Ouchiyama, Ozora, Oginokoasobi, Osaraku, Omoine, Omoinosora, Kagaribi, Kageori, Kasanekagaribi, Kashima, Kasumigaseki, Katsuragawa, Katsuranohana, Karanishiki, Kinen, Kimigayo, Kyokanoko, Kirin, Kuninohomare, Kumoizuru, Kurumagaeshi, Kurehashibori, Gubijin,Genroku, Kogasane, Kokonoe, Kotsubo, Konohana, Komachinomai, Sakurakagami, Sakuragasane, Sakuragari, Sakuragawa, Sakon, Sazanami, Sawanotsuki, Sankonishiki, Shiundai, Shishinden, Shizunomai, Shuchuka, Shokkonishiki, Shiranui, Shirayuki, Shirotsuyu, Shinutena, Shinonoe, Shinseikai, Shintenchi, Shintokinohagasane, Shinmiyagino, Shingari, Suishoren, Suiyohi, Suetsumuhana, Suganoito, Surusumi, Seika, Tamagaki, Tamazakura, Tamatanoyukari, Tamatebako, Tamabeni, Tancho, Daikuni, Chiyodazakura, Chiyozuru, Tsukasabeni, Teruhime, Tenchikai, Tennyonomai, Toranohokora, Tokonatsu, Nakosonoseki, Naniwagata, Narumishibori, Nishikigasane, Nishikikujaku, Nikko, Neyanoogi, Nodanosato, Hakuonishiki, Hagoromo, Hatsukatsugi, Hanaasobi, Hanagatami, Hanaguruma, Hananomikado, Hanafubuki, Harunoshiori, Harunoakebono, Hitachiyama, Hinokoromo, Hinotsukasa, Hinodenotaka, Hinohakama, Hyakkasen, Fukashigi, Fukuzutsumi, Fukuwarai, Fujinoasahi, Fujinoomoi, Fujigasumi, Fudezuka, Bezaiten, Benikirin, Benifude, Hoo, Hosshinzakura, Maiogi, Maikujaku, Maihime, Mayafujin, Mikaerizakura, Mikadonishiki, Mikushishibori, Mizunoyamabuki, Mimuroyama, Mihatanishiki, Miyotsukasa, Miyonoharu, Miyonohomare, Mukojima, Musashino, Murasakikago, Murechidori, Moroekubo, Yakumo, Yachiyo, Yamatozakura, Yugure, Yukinomo, Yoro, Yoshimigatake, Yosooi, Rajomon, Rikyugonomi, Ryusei, Ryumon, Wakaebisu, Wakanoura, Wakaba (170 cultivars)

Ranking List of Kurume Azalea (January 1909, owned by WAC)

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Bred in the Taisho era

Asahiryu, Ayagoromo, Imashikibu, Usugesho, Umeo, Osawa, Kagura, Katsuragaeshi, Katsurahime, Kintaiyo, Kunitoko, Komachi, Shintokonatsu, Shinmiyonohomare, Takaranotama, Tagonofuji, Tamanokoshi, Daikirin, Chigonomai, Chonohagasane, Tsukiminoen, Tokoharu, Najimanooka, Nishikitsukasa, Nikkozan, Hatsuume, Hinodenokumo, Fukuhiko, Futaetokonatsu, Fudetsukasa, Fudedome, Miyakojishi, Yamatonoharu (33 cultivars)

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Bred from the Taisho to Showa era

Asahinonishiki, Ayaha, Imayonishiki, Omiyo, Okocho, Onoe, Kasanekagaribi, Kamakura, Kayoikomachi, Kanki, Kigen, Kinpo, Kunimitsu, Kurumekomachi, Koranoharu, Goseikon, Satonohikari, Sanko, Shiunnotaki, Shinazumagata, Shingofuku, Shintsuten, Seika, Seirin, Taiten, Taene, Chigoasobi, Chigogasane, Chitosenoharu, Terukuni, Tenkai, Tenyo, Hakubotan, Bikonotama, Bijinsugata, Harunosato, Hinodenoumi, Hiryunomai, Fujinosusono, Fudenaka, Buncho, Benibotan, Maiginu, Manzan, Miyakonohana, Miyakonohomare, Miyakobijin, Murasame, Yomeinishiki, Ryusagawa (50 cultivars)

Bred in the Showa era

Imamurasaki, Oyashima, Gunki, Shigurenishiki, Shigurenotaki, Shukuten, Showanohomare, Hinokoromo, Himekagami (9 cultivars)

Composition ratio shown by period