Elepidote Rhododendron: R. smirnowii

Flower pink to rose-purple, spotted yellow to brown, funnel-campanulate shaped.  Truss holds 6-15 flowers.  Blooms late midseason.  Leaves oblanceolate to elliptic, up to 7" long, margins re-curved, pale fawn to pale brown indumentum.  Compact growing shrub, more upright in shade.  Grows to a typical height of 4 ft. in 10 yrs.  Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Native to northeastern Turkey and adjacent Georgia. In the Caucasus Mountains it is found growing at 1500 - 2300 m, often at the edge of spruce forests or just above the tree line.

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Pioneer Silvery Pink'

Flower purplish-pink in bud, opening pale purplish-pink, lightly spotted purplish red, outside slightly darker along midribs, openly funnel-shaped, wavy edges, 2" across.  Flowers in multi-bud, ball-shaped trusses of 17.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic, flat, acute apex, cuneate base, about 2½" long, semi-glossy, moderate olive green, fall foliage often red-colored, retained 2 years.  Upright plant habit.  Heat tolerant.  Typical height: 6 ft. in 10 yrs.  Plant is hardy to -20°F (-29°C).  Raised to first flower by Hoogendorn Nurseries.

Evergreen Azalea: 'Girard's Fuchsia'

Flower moderate to deep purplish-red with moderate purplish-red spots, reverse deep purplish-pink, broadly funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, 2½" to 3" across.  Inflorescence 3 flowered.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves narrowly obovate to elliptic, apiculate apex, narrowly cuneate base, 1¾" long, glossy, moderate yellowish olive green.  Broad plant habit.  Grows to a typical height of 4 ft. in 10 yrs.  Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Hybridized by Girard.

Deciduous Azalea: R. prinophyllum

Flower deep to rose-pink, rarely white, about 1" across, tubular funnel-shaped, spicy-scented fragrance.  Stamens exserted, the filaments arched upward.  Inflorescence 4-12 flowered.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves obovate to elliptic, up to 3½" long, lower surface usually pubescent, deciduous.  Leaves tend to cluster near the branch tips.  Grows to about 5 ft. tall in 10 years.  Hardy to -25°F (-32°C).  Found in the wild in eastern north America (Quebec, New England to Virginia and west to Oklahoma).