Kyushu azalea
Rhododendron kiusianum
ミヤマキリシマ
Ericaceae
Rhododendron kiusianum is a low-growing alpine azalea native to the
Native Container Wildlife value: medium Maintenance: medium shrub
Planting calendar (Tokyo baseline)
Pick a region in the header to shift the window.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planting | ||||||||||||
| Flowering | ||||||||||||
| Fruiting |
Tokyo baseline: months 3, 10, 11
Growing requirements
| Light | full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | medium |
| Soil | acidic, well-drained, organic-rich |
| Hardiness | Tokyo lowland |
| Container | Yes · Min container size: 20 L |
| Maintenance | medium |
| Common issues | spider mites; lace bugs |
Where to source
Seedlings, divisions, or seed. Native plant suppliers in Japan are the right starting point.
- Search Japanese suppliers for seedlings · native-plant suppliers
About this native
Rhododendron kiusianum is a low-growing alpine azalea native to the
high mountains of Kyushu. Long established in Japanese gardens as the
parent of the kirishima-tsutsuji cultivar group, it densely branches
near the ground and bears profuse flowers in red, magenta, and
pink-purple in late spring. Often pruned into the dome-like cushions
characteristic of formal Japanese azalea gardens.
Usage
Massed ground cover, pruned shrub forms, low hedges. Avoid harsh
afternoon sun in lowland Tokyo plantings.
Practical info
| Native | Yes |
|---|---|
| Edible | No |
| Wildlife value | medium |
| Attracts |
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Sources
Primary references, publications, and observation data this page draws on. How sources are picked is described in About the data .
- RHS — Rhododendron kiusianum
- Catalog editor (niwa, 2026-05)