Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Taurus'

Flower vivid and strong red with darker throat and black spots on dorsal lobe, campanulate, 3½" across.  Large ball-shaped truss holds about about 16 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Deep red winter buds.  Leaves elliptic with acute apex and rounded base, about 7" long, dark green, retained 3 years.  Afternoon sun protection is preferred.  Grows to a typical height of about 6 ft. in 10 yrs.  Cold hardy to -5°F (-21°C).  Hybridized by Mossman.  RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993.

Lepidote Rhododendron: mucronulatum 'Cornell Pink'

Flower pink with faint orange dorsal spots, broadly funnel-shaped, 1½" across.  Inflorescence 2-3 flowered.  Blooms very early.  Leaf is lanceolate, 2" to 2¼" long, dark green, deciduous.  Open, twiggy growth habit.  Typical height: 5 ft. in 10 yrs.  Plant is cold hardy to -20°F (-29°C).  Raised by Skinner.

Evergreen Azalea: 'Rosebud'

Flower strong purplish-pink, flushed with slight veining of deep purplish pink, broadly funnel-shaped, double, hose-in hose, 1⅛" across.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic, 1" to 1½" long, glossy, mid green.  Spreading, dense habit.  Grows to a typical height of 4 ft in 10 yrs.  Hardy to -10° F (-23° C).  Hybridized by Gable.  Received the ARS Award of Merit and the First Class Certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society.

Deciduous Azalea: R. schlippenbachii

Flower pale to deep pink, rarely white, broadly rotate-funnel shaped.  Inflorescence 3-6 flowered.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves broadly obovate, up to 4½" long, in whorls at branch tips, deciduous.  Grows to a typical height of about 4 ft. in 10 years.  Plant and bud hardy to -20°F (-29°C).  Native species growing in Korea, North East Manchuria and Eastern Russia.