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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2007


South Central USA Region

R. 'Peppermint Twist'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Peppermint Twist'

Flower pink with a white throat and red spotting on dorsal lobe, funnel-shaped, wavy edges, 2¾" across.  Color changes with age to white with pale pink margins.  Trusses holds about 12 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves oblong, de-curved margins, broadly acute apex, rounded base, 4½" long, glossy green, retained for 2 years.  Rounded, dense plant habit. Typical height: 4 ft. in 10 yrs.  Plant is hardy to -10°F (-23°C).  Tolerates humidity well.  Hybridized by Thornton.

 
R. 'Mary Fleming'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Mary Fleming'

Flower cream flushed strong to light purplish pink, darker blotch in throat, campanulate-shaped, wavy edged, about 1" across.  Buds hold 2 or 3 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves approximately 2" long, dull, dark green.  Leaves are bronze when new and in the winter.  Plant is sun and heat tolerant.  Typical height: 2 ft. in 10 years.  Plant is cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Prefers some shade for best performance.  Hybridized by Nearing.

 
R. 'Purple Splendor'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Purple Splendor'

Flower vivid reddish purple with darker blotch, openly funnel-shaped, 2" across, frilly edges, hose-in-hose.  Very floriferous.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic with acute apex and cuneate base, about 1" long, medium green.  Dense, spreading habit.  Grows to a typical height of 4 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Hybridized by Gable.

 
R. 'Mount Saint Helens'

Deciduous Azalea: R. 'Mount Saint Helens'

Flower yellowish pink with a vivid reddish orange blotch, widely funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, 2½" across.  Ball-shaped truss hold 11 flowers.  Blooms late midseason.  Leaves oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, mucronate, narrowly cuneate, 3" to 4" long, moderate yellowish-green.  Deciduous leaves turn a beautiful orange yellow in the fall.  Upright habit.  Grows to about 6 ft. tall in 10 years.  Plant is cold hardy to -25°F (-32°C).  Hybridized by Girard.

Photos (top to bottom) by Harold Greer, June Bouchard, Hank Helm, Sally and John Perkins.

Prior Years Selections for South Central USA Region

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

 

2006

2005

2004


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