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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2006


North West USA Region

R. 'Point Defiance'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Point Defiance'

Flower white in center, edged purplish red on all lobes, fading in time to nearly pure white, of heavy substance, widely funnel-shaped, 4½" across.  Buds are strong red colored.  Held in trusses with 15 to 17 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic, mucronate apex, rounded base, 7¼" long, re-curved edges, leathery, impressed mid-rib, dark green.  Upright plant habit.  Grows to a typical height of 6 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -5°F (-21°C).  Hybridized by Lem.

 
R. 'Wee Bee'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Wee Bee'

Flower vivid red shading to pink in throat, red rays down each lobe, wavy lobes, openly funnel-shaped, 1½" across.  Held in lax trusses of 3-5 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, 1¼" long, bronzy-red in fall.  Rounded, dense, very compact habit.  Low growing to a height of about 1 ft. in 10 years.  Plant is cold hardy to 5°F (-15° C).  Hybridized by Berg.  Won an Award of Excellence from the ARS in 1989.

 
R. 'Silver Sword'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Silver Sword'

Flower strong purplish red, unmarked, openly funnel-shaped, wavy lobed, about 2" across.  Dome-shaped inflorescence with 5-7 trusses, each 2-8 flowered.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves narrowly elliptic to elliptic, irregularly shaped, 1½" to 2" long, glossy, sparsely hairy, variegated white and green, tinged red in fall, retained 2 years.  Upright, broad, well-branched plant.  Grows to a typical height of 2 ft in 10 years.  Cold hardy to 0°F (-18°C).  Selected by Meivogel.

 
R. 'Washington State Centennial'

Deciduous Azalea: 'Washington State Centennial'

Flower light orange paling to white, with prominent strong orange yellow blotch and discontinuous strong pink edge and veins, tubular funnel-shaped, very deeply ruffled edges, 3½" across, fragrant.  Ball-shaped truss holds 10-12 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic and narrowly obovate, apiculate, cuneate, 3⅞" long, revolute, glossy, moderate yellow-green.  Upright, open growth habit.  Grows to a height of 5 ft. in 10 years.  Hardy to -10°F (-23°C).  Hybridized by Mossman.  Selected by the Washington State Centennial Commission to honor 100 years of statehood.

Photos (top to bottom) by Don Wallace, Kenneth Cox, Harold Greer, Harold Greer.

Prior Years Selections for North West USA Region

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2023

2022

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2020

2019

2018

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2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

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2009

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2007

 

2005

2004


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Ph: 631-533-0375   E-Mail: member@arsoffice.org
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