Azalea plant

Abstract

An azalea plant having medium-sized, bright-red hose-in-hose flowers in clusters of three to five on terminal ends of branches. The plant branches well, is compact, and is extremely winter-hardy in the Washington, D.C. area. The flowers on a given plant come into bloom simultaneously and force well when buds are set outdoors. The plant naturally blooms about April 27th in Washington, D.C.

I claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of azalea plant substantially as herein illustrated and described and characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of a bright red color with spontaneous bloom wherein most buds progress to bloom essentially simultaneously particularly as compared with its pollen parent "hexe"; very winter-hardy in the Washington, D.C. area without tip-burning of leaves; moderately compact and dwarfish with 3 to 5 hose-in-hose florets making up a firm truss on the terminal portions of short stems; and, further characterized in that the plant forces and roots well from cuttings taken either before or after bud set.