Azalea is called “Tsutsuji” in Japanese. They bloom pink or red after the cherry blossoms end. They are easy to trim, so they are used for hedges around houses or as low shrubs along streets. You can see Tsutsuji blooming everywhere in late spring.
Tsutsuji grow throughout Asia, and in Japan, they have been cultivated for a long time. The petals have good nectar that attracts bees. Children love to suck the flower nectar too. (Watch out, one species is poisonous.) The upper side of the petals has dots, which function as guide marks to the nectar for bees.
Satsuki: This is a species of azalea with stiffer leaves. It blooms in May after the normal Tsutsuji. Satsuki means “May.”
Miyamakirishima: This species of azalea grows in the volcanic mountain areas in Kyushu, like the Kirishima Plateau (the origin of the name), Mt. Aso, Mt. Kuju, and Unzen. They tend to grow in areas where volcanic activity has disrupted the ecological system.
Good Tsutsuji Viewing Places in Kyushu
- Mifuneyama Park, Takeo, Saga
- Noko Island, Fukuoka
- Sensuikyo, Aso, Kumamoto
- Nita Pass, Unzen, Nagasaki
- Ebino Plateau, Kagaoshima
- Daikozen-ji Temple, Kiyama, Saga
- Nagakushiyama Park, Sasebo, Nagasaki
