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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2015


South Central USA Region

R. 'Todmorden'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Todmorden'

Flower has deep purplish-pink edges shading to light purplish-pink, aging to nearly white, with sparse light yellow-green spots, widely funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, 3½" across.  Held in ball-shaped trusses of 8-15 flowers.  Blooms late midseason.  Leaves elliptic to nearly oblong, flat to concave, 5" long, dull, yellowish-green, retained 2 years.  Upright, rounded habit.  Typical height: 6 ft. in 10 yrs.  Plant is hardy to -10°F (-23°C).  Hybridized by Dexter.

 
R. 'Windbeam'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Windbeam'

Flower open white tinged pale apricot, aging to white, after 3-4 days flowers become light purplish-pink, dorsal lobe slightly spotted red, funnel-shaped, wavy-edged, ¾" across.  Ball-shaped truss holds 8 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic to lanceolate, obtuse apex, cuneate base, 2" to 2¾" long, moderate olive green.  Willowy and straggly plant habit.  Height: grows to about 3 ft. in 10 yrs.  Plant is hardy to -25°F (-32°C).  Hybridized by Nearing.  Received the ARS Award of Excellence in 1973.

 
R. 'Autumn Royalty'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Autumn Royalty'

Flower inside strong purplish red with darker spotting on dorsal lobe and upper wings, openly funnel-shaped, single, 3.5"-4" across, wavy-edged.  Blooms March-April followed by autumn flowering as new buds mature.  Leaves elliptic, flat, cuneate base, acute apex, 2.25"-2.75" long, dull, moderate olive green above; with hairs on both surfaces, white at first, becoming dark grayish reddish brown and less numerous with age.  Dense plant habit.  Grows to height of about 8 ft. in 10 yrs.  Plant hardy to 0°F (-18°C).  Hybridized by Lee.  Plant patent #10580.

 
R. prinophyllum

Deciduous Azalea: R. prinophyllum

Flower deep to rose-pink, rarely white, unmarked, tubular funnel-shaped, spicy fragrance.  Inflorescence has 5-9 flowers.  Blooms midseason to late midseason.  Leaves obovate to elliptic, cuneate base, mucronate apex, up to 3½" long, lower surface usually pubescent, deciduous.  Upright plant habit.  Grows to a typical height of 5 ft. in 10 yrs.  Cold hardy to -25°F (-32°C).  Grows in the wild in North America (Quebec, New England to Virginia and west to Oklahoma).

Photos (top to bottom) by Don Hyatt, Eleanor Philp, courtesy of Flowerwood Nursery, Sally and John Perkins.

Prior Years Selections for South Central USA Region

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

 

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004


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