A lot of satsuki enthusiasts in the world cannot distinguish between satsuki, tsutsuji and azalea academically. It was because a lot of traders of them in each district in Japan have used their own naming at will for a long time since long ago and because the academic classification is so confused that they could not understand it easily. And besides, the Japanese word of tsutsuji has the very wide range of meanings. And we had not had the necessity to divide satsuki and tsutsuji definitely in the daily life till the world of satsuki bonsai was built in the bonsai world about 50 years ago when the satsuki boom began to increase. But the tsutsuji boom did not break out. Why? I think it was because we could make satsuki trees into bonsai more easily than tsutsuji trees. And a lot of satsuki flower shows and satsuki bonsai shows have been held in a lot of districts in Japan since then. But since the boom is past now the number of satsuki societies is decreasing rapidly.
Now I would like to show the classification of satsuki and tsutsuji so easily and definitely lest we should use the ambiguous words of satsuki, tsutsuji and azalea in the bonsai societies. Therefore please copy this classification by the copy machine. I think that it is a necessary step to make a lot of foreign people make satsuki bonsai or plant them in the garden.
Though the photos which I used here were chosen from the collection of photos of my satsuki trees, some of them are not clean. And besides, though I have taken a lot of photos of them since several years ago, I have not photographed all trees from then. Therefore I am sorry that I cannot use some photos of the trees which I would like to show here because they already died.
Section 1.The classification of satsuki and tsutsuji
A. The short history of satsuki and tsutsuji
It is not long ago that the theory of botanical classification was built clearly. But the history of satsuki and tsutsuji in Japan is more than about 1,300 years. We can see the first description of tsutsuji in the poem by Hitomaru Kakinomoto in Manyoshu (5 – 8 c) which is a huge collection of poems. And KINSHUMAKURA which is the first illustrated botany in Japan was published in 1692 by Ihei Ito who had distinguished between satsuki and tsutsuji first in Japan. And the title was changed to CHOSEIKARINSHO in 1733 where we can see 175 varieties of tsutsuji and 168 varieties of satsuki. Judging from these books, at the least we can know that a lot of people have improved the varieties of satsuki and tsutsuji since about 4 centuries ago. And it is said that there are more than 3,000 varieties of satsuki now though we cannot see a lot of them at any satsuki flower shows or bonsai shows and buy them.
B. The classification of satsuki and tsutsuji
I have used the words of family, species and variety in my web site and translations easily till now and used them when I had demonstrations in England and the Netherlands. But now I think I must not translate the word of Japanese tsutsuji only into azalea. And though I have used the word of azalea every time and everywhere in the European countries at will, I think I was wrong because the word of azalea is very ambiguous, that is, it has a very wide range of meanings.
At first I would like to show the academic classification of plants: division – class – order - family – genus – (subgenus – section) - species – variety. And the genealogy of tsutsuji is as follows: the order of tsutsuji (Ericales) – the family of tsutsuji (Ericaceae, heath family) - the subfamily of tsutsuji (Ericoideae, or Rhododendroideae) – the genus of tsutsuji (Rhododendron) – the subgenus of tsutsuji – the section of tsutsuji – the series of tsutsuji.
The genus is tsutsuji (Rhododendron) (English name is azalea). It has 5 subgenera which are seen in Japan, and one of which is the section of tsutsuji and rosebay (rhododendron) belongs to the subgenus of tsutsuji, too. The section of tsutsuji has 5 series: Kometsutsuji, Mochitsutsuji, Satsukitsutsuji, Unzentsutsuji and Yamatsutsuji. Therefore even if satsuki trees were called by the name of azalea in European countries, it is not wrong. But we had better distinguish between satsuki and tsutsuji.
Here I would like to confirm the more divisions of each series because we can know the difference between satsuki and tsutsuji.
The subgenus of tsutsuji
The sections of tsutsuji
The series of Kometsutsuji
Kometsutsuji (Rhododendron tschonoskii)
Okometsutsuji (Rhododendron trinerve)
The series of Mochitsutsuji
Mochitsutsuji (Rhododendron macrosepalum)
Kishitsutsuji (Rhododendron ripense)
Chosenyamatsutsuji (Rhododendron yedoense)
Keranatsutsuji(Rhododendron scabrum)
Yakushimayamatsutsuji>(Rhododendron yakuinsulare)
Sakishimatsutsuji (Rhododendron amanoi)
Munintsutsuji (Rhododendron boniense)
The series of satsuki
Satsuki (satsukitsutsuji) (Rhododendron indicum)
Marubasatsuki(Rhododendron eriocarpum)
Senkakutsutsuji (Rhododendron tawadae)
The series of Unzentsutsuji
Unzentsytsuji (Rhododendron serpyllifolium)
The series of Yamatsutsuji
Yamatsutsuji (Rhododendron kaempferi)
Satatsutsuji (Rhododendron sataense)
Oyamatsutsuji (Rhododendron transiense)
Fujitsutsuji (Rhododendron tosaense)
Toyamatsutsuji (Rhododendron simsii)
Miyamakirishima (Rhododendron kiusianum)
Ashitakatsutsuji (Rhododendron komiyamae)
Terihayamatsutsuji (Rhododendron lusidusculum)
Kozushimayamatsutsuji (Rhododendron × koudzumontanum)
Kurumetsutsuji (Rhododendron × obtusum)
(Kurumetsutsuji was chosen and fixed from the species of Kirishimatsutsuji or was produced by crossing between Kirishimatsutsuji and Satatsutsuji in Edo era (1603 – 1867). I think this Kurofune is a variety of Kurumetsutsuji, but it does not belong to the series of Kurofunetsutsuji (Rhododendron schlippenbachii).
Hiradotsutsuji (Rhododendron × pulchrum)
(Hiradotsutsuji was produced by crossing of Keramatsutsuji, Mochitsutsuji, Kishitutsuji and Ryukyutsutsuji.)
Kirishimatsutsuji (Rhododendron × obtsum)
Ryukyutsutsuji (Rhododendron × mucronatum)
But the subgenus of tsutsuji has other 6 sections in Japan.
The section of Hakonekometsutsuji
Hakonekoetsutsuji (Rhododendron tsusiophyllum)
The section of Sakuratsutsuji
Sakuratsutsuji (Rhododendron tashiroi)
The section of Obatsutsuji
Obatsutsuji (Rhododendron nipponicum)
The section of Baikatsutsuji
Baikatsutsuji (Rhododendron semibarbatum)
The section of Mitsubastutsuji
The series of Mitsubatsutsuji
Mitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron dilatatum)
Hidakamitubatsutsuji (Rhododendron hidakanum)
Tosanomitsubastutsuji (Rhododendron decandrum)
Hayatomistubatsutsuji (Rhododendron satsumense)
Urajiromitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron osuzuyamense)
The series of Takakumamitsubatsuutsuji
Takakumamitsubatsuutsuji (Rhododendron viscistylum)
Hyugamitsubatsutsui (Rhododendron hyugaense)
Amakusamitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron amakusaense)
The series of Saigokumitsubatsutsuji
Saigokumitubatsutsuji (Rhododendron nudipes)
Himemitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron nagasakianum)
Togokumitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron wadanum)
Daisenmitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron lagopus var. lagopus)
Yukigunimitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron lagopus var. niphophilum)
Yakushimamitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron yakumontanum)
The series of Kobanomitsubatsutsuji
Kobanomitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron reticulatum)
Nangokumitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron msyebarae)
Kiyosumimitsubatsutsuji (Rhododendron kiyosumense)
The series of Onshitsutsuji
Onshitsutsuji (Rhododendron weyrichii)
Amagitsutsuji (Rhododendron amagianum)
Jingutsutsuji (Rhododendron snactum)
The section of Shiroyashio
Shiroyashio (Goyotsutsuji) (Rhododendron quinquefolium)
Kurofunetsutsuji (Rhododendron schlippenbachii)
Now we can see a lot of flowers of the genus of tsutsuji in Japan if we would like to see them though several original tsutsuji are the endangered species. I have three original tsutsuji in the gardens: Keramatsutsuji which grows naturally in Okinawa prefecture (therefore other name is Okinawatsutsuji), Yakushimayamatsutsuji in Yaku Island, Kagoshima prefecture and Kometsutsuji in Shikoku – the big island between Honshu and Kyushu. And I have two original tsutsuji in the garden whose series I don’t know. And besides, I can see some tsutsuji in the fields and mountains near our house.
This tree is a young tree of so-called Yakushimatsutsuji. I brought home a large three-trunked tree from Yaku Island in March 1973, which the hostess of BB gave me. Though they were very short, since they were straight, I gave it to one of my friends as a garden tree. Since I inserted some shoots into Kanuma soil in June 1973, the large –trunked tree which has been planted in the nursery is 43 years old. But now it is forbidden to bring out any type of this species from the island because it is designated as an endangered species by the nation now.
Section 2.The confusion of satsuki and tsutsuji
A. The garden plants which we can buy
Now we can buy so-called kurumetsutsuji, hiradotsutsuji, satsuki and azalea at the garden shops in Japan. Therefore these names do not follow the academic classification severely. In fact this ambiguity has caused us a great problem that a lot of people cannot distinguish between them because even a lot of traders of them had confused their naming since a long ago. And besides, in English all words of Japanese tsutsuji are apt to be translated only into azalea.
Though this so-called Kurumetsutsuji was produced by crossing of Satatsutsuji, Yamatsutsuji and Miyamakirishima, and this so-called Hiradotsutsuji was produced by crossing of Keramatsutsuji, Mochitsutsuji, Kishitutsuji and Ryukyutsutsuji, they belong to the series of Yamatsutsuji, that is, they are not original species, but garden plants.
And since this so-called satsuki was produced by crossing the species of Satsukitsutsuji and the species of Marubasatsuki, it is not an original species but garden plants. And it is called satsuki generally in Japan. One of the original species of Satsukitsutsuji is called Kawasatsuki because it grows naturally between rocks by the rivers. And though other species is called Marubasatsuki which has several varieties, they are not hybrids which were produced by people but natural ones which were chosen and fixed from the species of Marubasatsuki. Therefore Hakatajiro (white), Ishiyama (lilac purple), Kunpu (lilac purple), Takasago (pale purple) belong to the lineage of Marubasatsuki as garden plants but it is unknown whether they crossed between themselves or not. Though I had Hakatajiro, it died. And I have a variety of Kunpu in the nursery.
And since this so-called azalea was produced by crossing of Taiwantsutsuji, Toyamatsutsuji, Keramatsutsuji and Satsukitsutsuji in European countries, especially Belgium, it is a garden plant perfectly and we had better call it Belgian azalea which is the English formal name. And generally speaking, the new varieties of Belgian azalea had larger and more splendid flowers than their parents.
It was in the middle era of Meiji (about 1890) that Belgian azalea was reimported to Japan first. And it was crossed with satsuki frequently at the start of era of Showa. Therefore now we can buy a lot of varieties which descended from it. The notable varieties are Gyokurei, Kaminoyamakirin and Koka.
Gyokurei which I had is a cross whose parents are unknown though it was produced at the start of Showa era (about 1930). Kaminoyamakirin which I have not had is a variety of a lot of beautiful multi coloured flowers whose parents are unknown though it was produced at the start of Showa era (about 1930). This Koka which I have is a hybrid between Kyokkonishiki of satsuki and Tensho (Madam Morrow) of Belgian azalea.
Here if this so-called azalea is called Belgian azalea (Rhododendron x simsii), and kurumetsutsuji and hiradotsutsuji are not called Kurume azalea and Hirado azalea in English, at least I think this confusion will disappear. And I would like to use these words in my web site and translations of the magazines of satsuki or when I have some demos in European countries.
B. The difference between satsuki and tsutsuji
A lot of Japanese people equate Belgian azalea with tsutsuji and call it tsutsuji generally, that is, they are unable to distinguish them. And it is fact that there are a lot of people who call it azalea. And they cannot distinguish between them rightly. But since Belgian azalea belongs to the series of Yamatsutsuji, they are not absolutely wrong. In short, these popular naming does not accord with the confusing words of the academic classification which it is very difficult to use as everyday language.
Recently it is much more difficult to distinguish between satsuki and tsutsuji when a lot of people see them at sight because we have a lot of hybrids of them. For example though Kakuo belongs to satsuki, it is a hybrid of Nikko and miyamakirishima, And Chikuho and Miyamamangetsu belong to satsuki, too, but their parents are unknown though they are thought to belong to the lineage of Miyamakirishima. These trees are Kakuo (left) and Chikuho (right).
It is a fact that there are the botanical differences between satsuki and tsutsuji.
1.The size of leaf: The leaf of satsuki is 2 – 3 cm long and about 6mm wide. And that of tsutsuji is 5 – 7cm long and 1.5 cm wide. But especially the leaves of Miyamakirishima and Kurumetsutsuji are smaller than those of satsuki.
2.The nature of leaf: Though the leaves of satsuki have the luster on the surface, tsutsuji has nothing on the surface of leaves. Satsuki has very short sticky hairs on the back of leaves though some varieties of satsuki and all tsutsuji have nothing.
3.The diameter of flowers: Though the diameter of satsuki flowers is 3.5 – 5 cm, the diameter of tsutsuji flowers is 5 - 7 cm. But especially the diameter of Miyamakirishima and Kurumetsutsuji flowers is about a half of that of satsuki flowers.
4.The time of blooming: Satsuki blooms in the second ten days of May – the second ten days of June. Tsutsuji blooms in the second ten days of April – the first ten days of May.
5.The number of stamens: A lot of satsuki have 5 stamens, but a lot of tsutsuji have 5 – 10 stamens.
6.How to bloom: It takes satsuki about a week to be in full bloom, but tsutsuji blooms all together.
7.The nature of tree: Satsuki is evergreen and short (within 1 m) but tsutsuji is an evergreen or deciduous tree and some large trees are 5 – 10 m tall.
8.The moisture: Satsuki is strong against moisture and dryness but tsutsuji is weak against moisture.
C. Ambiguity of the naming of tsutsuji
As stated above, it is very difficult to use the words of satsuki, tsutsuji and azalea academically in the bonsai world. All flowers which we call by the names of satsuki, tsutsuji and azalea belong to the genus of tsutsuji (Rhododendron: Ericaceae) – the subgenus of tsutsuji – the section of tsutsuji. And this section of tsutsuji has the series of satsuki and other 4 series of tsutsuji.
The nature had made the species of satsuki (satsukitsutsuji) (Rhododendron indicum) cross among the species itself and the species of marubasatsuki (Rhododendron eriocarpum) cross among the species itself, and produced some varieties whose flowers are different from their parents till 14 centuries ago since the ancient times, which our ancestors found out and fixed as the varieties to be planted in the gardens. And a lot of gardeners tried to cross between varieties of satsuki, between varieties of tsutsuji and between them at the start of Edo era (about 1650).
And European people imported the trees of the species of Taiwantsutsuji, Toyamatsutsuji, Keramatsutsuji and Satsukitsutsuji and produced large beautiful flowers by crossing of them. Since they were imported 150 years ago, a lot of Japanese people have called it European tsutsuji or azalea though its English name is Belgian azalea.
Therefore a lot of Japanese people who are much interested in the garden plants can distinguish the words of satsuki, tsutsuji and azalea ambiguously. But it is a fact that a lot of people cannot distinguish between satsuki and tsutsuji. And besides, we are unhappy that we can put the above words of all tsutsuji into azalea (English name), that is, European people cannot distinguish the words of so-called tsutsuji and so-called azalea in English because both of them are azalea. And since so-called satsuki is satsukitsutsuji, the English name is satsuki azalea. Therefore it is not wrong even if they called satsuki trees azalea.
But we have to avoid using only the word of azalea among the people who are interested in bonsai or garden plants so that we may understand each other easily. Therefore I would like to propose that we should use the three words of satsuki, tsutsuji and Belgian azalea and I will continue to use them drastically though they are a little bit ambiguous because the English word of azalea has the wide range of meanings.
The flowers of the series of tsutsuji are so beautiful that they are loved by a lot of people in the world. Therefore even if they did not know the variety of those flowers, they can plant it in a pot or in the garden. If it had a special character, it is OK. For example, though I do not know the variety of this tsutsuji, since it has a very good smell when it booms, I like it very much.
And a lot of ladies like this variety of Hoshi no kagayaki. It is a hybrid between Shiryu no homare and Kakuo which are crossed between Nikko and Miyamakirishima (other name is Kozakura) which belongs to the series of Yamatsutsuji. But I am a little bit sorry to tell you that it is a little bit weak because this variety has one fourths of the nature of Miyamakirishima, that is, we must not give all varieties of tsutsuji trees the same quantity of water as satsuki trees. If you do so, they will die. Therefore I do not have any large trees of this variety which are planted in pots except two large trees in the nursery.
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