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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2019


South East USA Region

R. 'Cynthia'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Cynthia'

Flower rose-pink with deeper red staining on the upper lobe, funnel-shaped, wavy edges, 3⅛" across.  Held in conical trusses of about 24 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves oblong, about 6" long, mid green.  Dome-shaped habit.  Sun and heat tolerant.  Grows to a height of 6 ft. in 10 yrs.  Plant is cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Hybridized by Standish & Noble.  Award of Garden Merit from Royal Horticultural Society in 1993.

 
R. minus var. chapmanii

Lepidote Rhododendron: R. minus var. chapmanii

Flower pink to purplish pink, sometimes spotted green, funnel-shaped.  Truss composed of 4-12 flowers.  Blooms early midseason to midseason.  Leaves oval to oblong-oval, up to 4" long, apex rounded.  Plant habit varies from compact to rather straggly, branches are erect and rigid.  Grows to a typical height of 3 ft. in 10 years.  Plant and bud hardy to -5°F (-21°C).  Native species found in the wild in Florida.

 
R. 'Koromo Shikibu'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Koromo Shikibu'

Flower light purplish pink, with darker tips and spots at base, single, 2½" across, narrow, deeply divided, strap-like lobes, ¼" wide and 1½" long.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, 1"-1½" long, light green.  Upright, open plant habit.  Grows to a height of 4 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Hybridizer is unknown.

 
R. canescens

Deciduous Azalea: R. canescens

Flower pale to deep pink, rarely white, tube often deeper colored than the lobes, fragrant, tubular funnel-shaped.  Truss has 6-19 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves ovate or obovate to elliptic, up to 3½" long, deciduous.  Shrub grows to 5 ft. or more in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -5°F (-21°C).  Native species found growing in eastern North America in the coastal plain of North Carolina to Florida and west to Texas.

Photos (top to bottom): Kenneth Cox, Boris Bauer, Boris Bauer, Hank Helm.

Prior Years Selections for South East USA Region

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

 

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004


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