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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2015


South East USA Region

R. 'Tom Everett'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Tom Everett'

Flower deep purplish-pink paling to near white in throat with vivid greenish-yellow faint spotting becoming almost solid near base of corolla, widely funnel-campanulate, wavy lobes, 3½" across, fragrant.  Held in dome-shaped trusses of 11 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic, flat with slight wave, 4½" to 6" long, olive green, retained 2 years.  Rounded growth habit.  Slow growing when young.  Typical height: 4 ft. in 10 yrs.  Plant is hardy to -5°F (-21°C).  Hybridized by Dexter.

 
R. 'Pioneer Silvery Pink'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Pioneer Silvery Pink'

Flower purplish-pink in bud, opening pale purplish-pink and lightly spotted purplish red, outside slightly darker along midribs, openly funnel-shaped, wavy edges, 2" across.  Held in multi-bud, ball-shaped trusses of 17 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic, flat, acute apex, cuneate base, about 2½" long, semi-glossy, moderate olive green, retained 2 years.  Grows to a height of about 6 ft. in 10 yrs.  Plant is cold hardy to -20°F (-29°C).  Hybridizer is unknown.

 
R. 'Venus' Baby'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Venus' Baby'

Flower light to pale purplish pink with a white blotch and light green spotting in dorsal throat, openly funnel-shaped with wavy-edged lobes, 4.2" across, with occasional petaloid stamens; slightly fragrant.  2 flowers/terminal bud.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves are obovate, flat, acute apex, cuneate base, 2.4" long, glossy, slightly fragrant, moderate yellow green, with discrete hairs colored white maturing to white or pale gold.  Upright and spreading plant habit.  Grows to 3 ft. in 10 yrs.  Hardy to 0°F (-21°C).  Hybridized by McDonald.

 
R. 'Aromi Sunrise'

Deciduous Azalea: 'Aromi Sunrise'

Flower brilliant yellow with vivid orange yellow blotch, tubular funnel-shaped, wavy edges, 2" across, highly scented.  Flat truss holds 14 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic, broadly acute apex, cuneate base, 2⅜" long, moderate olive green.  Shrub grows to 6 ft. in 10 years.  Hardy to at least 10°F (-12°C).  Hybridized by Aromi.

Photos (top to bottom) by Boris Bauer, Sally and John Perkins, Don Hyatt, Bob Stelloh.

Prior Years Selections for South East 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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