CONFERENCE
You can still catch a few early-blooming varieties - the salmon-colored 'Paul Schäme', 'Eri', and 'Sārtais Dzintars'. However, the true splendor is now shown by the mid-early blooming varieties - currently in full bloom are the bright 'Rosifolium', the soft pink 'Pink Dream' and 'Marion'. Competing in the brilliance of fiery red tones are 'Sarkangalvīte', 'Europa Lachs', and 'Oranje Boven', while purple accents are provided by 'Adventglöckchen', 'Ernst Risse', and 'Schloβ Pillnitz'. Among them, the white-flowered varieties stand out with the softness of snowflakes – 'Madame Marcel de Paepe', 'Grācija', 'Dr. Bergmann Albus', and 'Sniegbaltīte'.
The late-blooming varieties are still waking up slowly, but the purple 'Dr. Bernhard Stahn', the very soft pink 'Tendresse', the bicolored 'Sachsenstern', and 'Māsa Kerija' are already starting to bloom.
Azaleas do not have a strong fragrance, but one of the most aromatic flowers is the variety 'Heroiam Viiny', created by Ukrainian breeder Svitlana Prihodko in the 1960s. Compared to other varieties, it also has some of the largest flowers, which can reach the size of a saucer under good growing conditions.
Information prepared by: Annija Tija Berņikova-Bondare
Photo: Lauma Ķeire, University of Latvia Botanical Garden
