Lovely azalea that makes city lovely

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The best time comes for more flowers to bloom as summer approaches. Lovely azalea is one of those.

Typically, the growing season of lovely azalea stretches from April to May. When you take a walk in any city in southern China, chances are you will see them along the street in full blossom.

Lovely azalea in a Guangzhou garden. /VCG Photo

An easy way to distinguish lovely flower from other similar looking flower is the small area of small dark-colored dots on the petal and the feature that all five of its leaves are seamlessly connected at the bottom.

Lovely azalea closeup. /VCG Photo

With proper maintenance, a handful of flowers can be seen competing on a single branch. Nonetheless, the lack of adequate water and nutrition and exposure to sunlight, and dusty environment in urban cities always pose a threat to scare away the flower to bloom in a large number. As time goes by, lovely flowers dwelling in the road divider are only found in blossom in small size clusters scattered sparsely.

Lovely azalea in a Suzhou garden. /VCG Photo

A lovely azalea can grow up to 2.5m in the wild. But in order to keep align all urban plants, landscapers continuously have to trim and control its height shorter than 0.5m. This might also contribute to the less prosperous blossom.

Most species in azalea genus are poisonous and inedible, regardless of its good looks. A bold attempt to take a bite of the flower without being processed may result in death. Even if properly treated, devouring too much will also cause nausea and vomiting.