American Rhododendron Society Web Site ARS
navigation menu background

Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2020


North East USA and Canada Region

R. 'Mist Maiden'

Elepidote Rhododendron: R. 'Mist Maiden'

Flower pale purplish pink aging to white with moderate yellow dorsal spotting and deep purple pink stripe, openly funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, 2½" across.  Ball-shaped truss holds 14-17 flowers.  A midseason bloomer.  Leaves oblanceolate, acute apex, cuneate base, convex, 5¾" long, yellowish-green, retained 5 years.  New growth has grayish tan indumentum.  Grows broader than tall.  Grows to a typical height of 3 ft. tall in 10 years.  Hardy to -20°F (-29°C).  Selected by Hanger.

 
R. 'April Rose'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'April Rose'

Flower purplish red, widely funnel-shaped, double, 1½" to 2" across, slightly fragrant.  Terminal truss holds 3 to 4 flowers.  Blooms early.  Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, flat, 2" to 4" long, deep green, leaves turn reddish-bronze in fall.  Broad, upright habit.  Grows to a typical height of 3 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -25°F (-32°C).  Hybridized by Mehlquist.

 
R. eastmanii

Evergreen Azalea: R. eastmanii

Flower white, lobes pink tinged on newly opened flowers, yellow to orange blotch on upper lobe, funnel-shaped, 1"-2" across, glossy, mid green, strongly fragrant.  Truss has 5-9 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves ovate or obovate to elliptic, acute to obtuse apex, mucronate tip, cuneate base, 1¾" - 3" long.  Tall-growing non-stoloniferous shrub or small tree.  Native deciduous azalea recently discovered growing in South Carolina.

 
R. 'Pink Clusters'

Deciduous Azalea: R. 'Pink Clusters'

Flower strong purplish red, unmarked, funnel-shaped, wavy-edges 1.4" across.  Truss has 3 flowers.  Blooms midseason  Leaves ovate, cuneate base, obtuse apex, flat, 1¾" long, glossy, green.  Dense plant habit.  Grows to a height of about 2 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Hybridized by Mezitt.

Photos (top to bottom) by Sally and John Perkins, Harold Greer, Mike Creel, Sally and John Perkins.

Prior Years Selections for North East USA Region

2024

2023

2022

2021

 

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004


American Rhododendron Society
P.O. Box 43, Craryville, NY 12521
Ph: 631-533-0375   E-Mail: member@arsoffice.org
©1998-2024, ARS, All rights reserved.