Azalea

Denise VAN DAMME and Leon DE CLERQ

When Leon had to quit his work for health reasons, he focused on the breed of azaleas.
A passion inherited from his uncle, Leon DE KONING and sustained by his wife Denise.

At the time most European azaleas had fallen into oblivion.
And he decided to revive the harde Gentse, an azalea that stands extreme cold temperatures.

Thanks to public libraries he was able to picture several old species.
And with his wife Denise he travelled across the country and abroad
in search of surviving shrubs in parks and old properties.

Together, they discovered more than 30 old species.
And through the years, many new hybrids saw daylight.
His latest one is Madame Leon Declercq.

Every year in may, his garden is open for visitors. A must for the buff.

Today, florist all over Europe are cultivating those species again.

harde Gentse azalea (Dutch)