Ya'all have gone down the azalea rabbit hole. I'm with you.
@Pitoon - I think in building your "collection for propagation", if it were me, I would focus on cultivars with good bonsai traits, and a wide range of flower types. This being a focus over whether they are "pure" satsuki or whether they are Japanese in origin. Importing from Japan or Netherlands requires complex paperwork and quarantine requirements, not something worth while unless you want to regularly make thousand dollar plus size importations as the cost of paperwork alone will run in the hundreds.
So my focus would be smaller leaves, ability to "trunk up", some that are uprights, some that spread, enough winter hardiness to be fine outdoors in your winters, or with minimal extra protection. Then having met these traits, look for a range of colors, styles, and flower sizes, small flowers are better for traditional bonsai, big flowers are a love for people who like to show (for example, "Peoples Choice" bonsai winners). But definitely choose flowers for types, narrow petals, wide petals, fireworks and spider petals. Also, full camellia flowered doubles, hose in hose doubles, singles and other various forms. Look for the green flowered satsuki offered at one time by Bill Valavanis. Try to avoid too many of any one style, for example too many white center with pink margins on a "standard shaped flower". One or two good cultivars is enough. Keep an eye toward diversity in your collection. At least that is what I would do.
A great project. Could easily be a part time business, maybe even more than part time.
www.azaleas.org
minisatsuki.com
www.azaleas.org
