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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2012


South East USA Region

R. 'Nestucca'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Nestucca'

Flower white with greenish-brown spotting in throat, openly funnel-shaped, frilly lobes, 5" across.  Dome-shaped truss holds 14 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic, 4" long, glossy, dark green.  Compact plant with spreading habit.  Height: 3 ft. in 10 years.  Tolerates heat and sun.  Flower bud hardy to -10°F (-23°C).  Hybridized by C. Smith.

 
R. minus var. minus

Lepidote Rhododendron: minus var. minus

Flower pink to purplish pink or white, sometimes spotted green, funnel shaped with deep cut lobes.  Truss holds 4 to 12 flowers.  Blooms early midseason to midseason.  Leaves broadly elliptic to lanceolate, up to 4" long, apex acuminate.  Compact to rather straggly plant habit.  Typical height: 4 ft. in 10 years.  Plant is hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Native species found in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.

 
R. 'Coronado Red'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Coronado Red'

Flower deep red, unmarked, broadly funnel-shaped, 3" across.  Truss has 2 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves obovate, broadly acute apex, rounded base, about 1¾" long, semi-glossy, yellow green, retained 2 years.  Spreading plant habit.  Grows to a height of 4 ft. in 10 years.  Hardy to -5°F (-21° C).  Hybridized by Harris.

 
R. calendulaceum

Deciduous Azalea: R. calendulaceum

Flower has shades of orange, scarlet and yellow, funnel shaped.  Sometimes slightly scented.  Truss has 5-9 flowers.  Blooms late midseason to late.  Leaves ovate or obovate to elliptic, up to 3½" long, deciduous.  Grows as an upright, spreading plant.  Reaches a typical height of 5 ft. in 10 years.  Insect and disease resistant.  Plant and bud hardy to -20°F (-29°C).  Species found in the wild growing from Pennsylvania to northern Georgia.

Photos (top to bottom) by T. Lawrence Mellichamp, Boris Bauer, Joe Coleman, Sally and John Perkins.

Prior Years Selections for South East USA Region

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

 

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004


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