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Oomurasaki Azalea🌸
Rhododendron x pulchrum
オオムラサキ
An evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub in the heath family, a garden cultivar created in Edo-period Japan with putative hybrid origins involving Kerama azalea. The 8–10 cm bright reddish-purple flowers are exceptionally large for an azalea — hence 'ōmurasaki' ('big purple'). Widely planted in parks, streetscapes, and hedges across Japan, it defines early-summer azalea displays. The inner upper petal bears darker nectar-guide spots.
Identification Points
- ✓Large 8–10 cm bright reddish-purple flowers
- ✓Darker nectar-guide spots on upper inner petal
- ✓Evergreen to semi-evergreen hairy oblong leaves
Habitat
Cultivated (parks, streets, hedges)
Season
April to May (flowers)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Ovate
Growth form
Shrub
Evergreen/Deciduous
Evergreen
Petal count
5 petals
Petal fusion
Fused
Flower color
Purple
Flowering season
Spring
Habitat
Cultivated
Phylogenetic Positionツツジ科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core Eudicots > Ericales > Ericaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous (ca. 80 million years ago)
Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification