noun
Japanese azalea; renge azalea
A deciduous azalea native to Japan, known for its orange to red flowers. The name 'renge' (lotus) comes from the flower shape.
初夏になると、山でレンゲツツジが鮮やかに咲く。
In early summer, renge azaleas bloom vividly in the mountains.
Katakana spelling is common and matches usual-kana usage.
Kanji form is rare and mainly found in botanical or literary contexts.
General term for azalea; レンゲツツジ is a specific species.
From 蓮華 (renge, 'lotus flower') + 躑躅 (tsutsuji, 'azalea'), referring to the lotus-like shape of the flowers.