noun
Refers to flowering shrubs of the genus Rhododendron, especially the evergreen azaleas commonly seen in Japanese gardens and parks.
公園のつつじが満開です。
The azaleas in the park are in full bloom.
このつつじは毎年きれいな花を咲かせます。
This azalea blooms beautifully every year.
Rare kanji form; the reading is a jukujikun. Almost never used in modern writing.
さつき (皐月) is a specific type of azalea (Rhododendron indicum) that blooms later, around May–June, while つつじ generally refers to azaleas blooming in spring.
The origin is uncertain. The kanji 躑躅 are a jukujikun, assigned based on meaning rather than sound. The word itself is native Japanese, possibly related to the way the flowers bloom in clusters.