A Note from Your Editor Barbara Stump - Nacogdoches, Texas This issue is devoted completely to A few definitional comments will cultivar of unknown parentage has the Satsuki. The fall issue will report help provide the context for this ar- seven or more first- and second-gen- the 2001 convention at Asheville and ticle: First, the names of the Satsuki are eration descendants (children and catch up on other chapter and Society given as they appear in the latest edi- grandchildren). Subfamilies are des- news. Jim Trumbly of Roseville, Cali- tion of Satsuki Dictionary (or Satsuki ignated when a cultivar of known par- fornia, has produced a wonderful Daijiten, 5) , not Galle. Trumbly con- entage has seven or more first-and sec- overview of the group, showing how siders the former the most up-to-date ond-generation descendants." Finally, the "fashion" for Satsuki has changed and correct source. Thus, some names Tsutsuji is not equivalent to Tsutsusi, the subgenus of Rhododendron that in- over the years and presenting lineage are written as one word where read- cludes the evergreen azaleas, but is a links between cultivars. Jim Trumbly ers may have seen them hyphenated specific subset. From Galle (1987, p. photographed all the images and in the past. Second, his usage of the 206): The Japanese categorize azaleas drew the line drawings. He also sub- terms "family," "subfamily," and into two "groups": 1) Tsutsuji, which mitted the notes on the Satsuki Dictio- "group" is not the same as that listed includes all species or hybrids which nary that appear in the Research Notes in the International Code of Botanical flower 30 days or so after the spring section. The numbers in parentheses Nomenclature or the Cultivated Plant equinox , and 2) Satsuki, which in- refer to the numbered references at the Code. His frame of reference is as fol- cludes azaleas which flower 30 days end of his article. lows: "A family is designated when a or so after the Tsutsuji. The Changing Fashion of Satsuki Jim Trumbly— Roseville, California The purpose of this article is two- 2. The sporting characteristic of Historical Sources fold. The first is to review some im- Satsuki and the Japanese interest in My first Satsuki Dictionary (Satsuki portant information previously pre- this Daijiten) was the 1983 edition. This is sented by Galle and others that helps 3. The constantly changing tastes and the fat little picture compendium of explain the large number of cultivars interest in various Satsuki forms Satsuki cultivars—one to a page— in the Satsuki group. The second is to and features with text in Japanese except for the present new information that takes a In other words, the changing fash- English transliteration of the name. closer look at the characteristics of the ion of Satsuki. During the next decade I obtained individual cultivars to see if there were patterns in the types of Satsuki devel- oped during different periods in the past. Such patterns may help to ex- plain the range and continued devel- opment of Satsuki. For this I have re- lied primarily on the most current 1997 Satsuki Dictionary and transla- tions of the cultivar descriptions, lin- eage, and time of introduction. Satsuki Popularity Besides the great popularity of Satsuki in Japan and the support in- dustry of clubs, shows, colorful glossy magazines, and numerous commer- cial growers and nurseries, I believe there are at least three factors contrib- uting to the increasing numbers of Satsuki cultivars. These are: 1. A long legacy of horticultural Shugetsu', a single-patterned sokojiro (bicolor) flower form that came from 'Aikoku'. development of Satsuki 28 • THE AZALEAN/Summer 2001 'Aikoku', a multi-patterned cultivar where the bicolor is only 'Shisui' shows the unique shibe flower form, which has one of several color patterns present; this is an important very narrow petals that can appear to some parent in the 'Juko' subfamily. like a very typical form of stamen. three more dictionaries, the 1992, 1995, The ancient work Kinshu Makura, pub- Japanese horticultural literature about and 1997 editions, each one with more lished in 1692 (republished in an En- 320 years ago in Kadan Komoku. Some newly entered Satsuki. My 1997 Dic- glish version as A Brocade Pillow in 140 different selections of Tsutsuji are tionary has 1,012 described Satsuki 1984), described 161 Satsuki cultivars listed. Although the term Satsuki was cultivars. from 300 years ago. Only a few of not specifically mentioned, several of these are around today. the cultivars described seem to be These dictionaries are worthwhile Satsuki. It has also been suggested that little books if for no other reason than Why are there so many? Why is at the time of this publication the dis- to enjoy the pictures. But what caught there such a rate of new introductions tinction between Tsutsuji and Satsuki my attention was that between the when so many currently exist? Are all was probably not made and Satsuki 1995 and 1997 editions, in just two these new cultivars sufficiently differ- were undoubtedly among these early years, 51 new cultivars were added. ent from those that have already been azaleas (7) This seemed like a tremendous rate of created? growth in new cultivars to what al- ready is a huge group of azaleas. Finding answers to these questions can be very difficult in the West with My interest piqued, I began to pay few sources of information and with- more attention to cultivar names and out an ability to read Japanese. The to check these against Satsuki listed in situation described nearly 20 years other sources. ago in THE AZALEAN (9) by Carl Looking back, I found that there are Hahn, Chief Horticulturist for the many more named Satsuki cultivars Maryland National Capitol Park and than those described in the current Planning Commission, has not Satsuki dictionary. As many as a half changed. There still is very little infor- of the cultivars mentioned by Lee and mation on Satsuki available to the a third of those listed by Galle (1987) non-Japanese reader. are not in the latest Dictionary. I also This has been frustrating for me as checked a 1972 Japanese book Satsuki a student of Satsuki, but it has also Taikan, a lesser-known source to En- been a motivator to unveil some of the glish readers but referenced by Galle: mystery surrounding this important it described 1,500 Satsuki cultivars. group of azaleas. About two-thirds are different from those in the current Dictionary. Legacy Through the years, the total number Satsuki, and azaleas for that matter, of named Satsuki cultivars must have have been developed horticulturally been prodigious and several times the in Japan dating back to before 1500 'Kinsai' is an example of the sai (split- size of those being described today. A.D. Azaleas were first mentioned in petal) flower form in a deep red color. Summer 2001/THE AZALEAN • 29 Some 10 years or so later in 1692, and many cultivars of the time became group comes from its propensity for Kinshu Makura was published in five extinct. Satsuki interest persisted, sporting. Moreover, the Japanese ac- volumes. This landmark effort on aza- however, in some localized areas on tively pursue the many variations of leas drew the distinction between Honshu, and in Kurume on Kyushu, concentric and radially marked flower Tsutsuji and Satsuki, presenting the but not in Tokyo. This period of low patterns that can and do result. They, former in the first three volumes, and interest in Satsuki continued for over in fact, refer to this with appreciation the latter in the last two. Authored by 40 years, but was followed by a resur- as "the trick of the flower." Sporting Ito Ihei, a nurseryman and gardener gence of popularity in the years just has led to a tremendous diversity of of the castle grounds of a feudal lord, prior to World War I. flowers, not only in patterns, but also it describes in detail the azaleas of that This turn in popularity is noted as in color, forms, shapes and sizes. Com- time including 161 Satsuki. Detailed around 1914 (in the early Taisho Era) binations of these variations are often descriptions of flower forms, colors, when an exhibition held in a park in found on an individual plant. Like- bloom time, and grades of flower Tokyo reintroduced the beauty of wise, the recognition of these differ- quality are included along with wood Satsuki blossoms to the Japanese pub- ences and the development of several block illustrations giving us a reveal- lic (7). With this came the beginning new cultivars from one common par- ing record of the already substantial of a major increase in the rate of dis- ent has had a multiplier effect on the diversity of Satsuki over 300 years ago. covery of seedlings and sports, and the creation and naming of new cultivars. Included are single, double, hose-in- creation of new cultivars. Cultivars hose, sai (split petal), and skirted (par- For example, the vegetative propa- such as 'Eikan', 'Gunpo'(20), 'Bunka', tially developed petal-like structures gation of essentially one type of flower 'Ungetsu', and 'Fukuju' originated in pattern from a parent that exhibits a between the calyx and corolla) flower this period. forms, many shibori flower patterns diversity of flower pattern types may (radially marked petals with flecks, From this new beginning to the result in a separate named cultivar. stripes, and wedges), and nearly the present, Satsuki have maintained This especially can be accomplished full range of flower colors seen today. popularity in Japan. During this "mod- for some Satsuki flower patterns that ern" era the first formal introductions are dominant.