American Rhododendron Society Web Site ARS
navigation menu background

Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2020


South East USA Region

R. 'Dexter's Vanilla'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Dexter's Vanilla'

Flower creamy white with purplish-pink edged lobes and along central veins of lobes, reddish-brown marking on upper lobe, openly funnel-shaped, 3½" across, fragrant.  Held in flat to lax trusses of 8 flowers.  Blooms late midseason.  Leaves elliptic to oblong, apiculate apex, cuneate base, 5" long, glossy, olive green, retained 2 years.  Grows to a height of 3 ft. in 10 yrs.  Plant is cold hardy to 0°F (-18°C).  Hybridized by Dexter.

 
R. 'Yellow Eyes'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Yellow Eyes'

Flower pure white with prominent spotting of greenish-yellow (ages yellow) on upper 3 petals, broadly funnel-shaped, 1¼" across.  Dome-shaped truss has 8-9 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic, down-curved edges, 1¾" long, dull green, heavily scaled, retained 2 years.  Leaves turn bronze in winter.  Plant has an upright growth habit.  Grows to a typical height of 3 ft. in 10 years.  Plant and bud hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Hybridized by Nearing.

 
R. 'Autumn Twist'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Autumn Twist'

Flower white to light pink with purplish-pink blotch, stripes and sectors, about 3" across, single, openly funnel-shaped.  One of the Encore™ series of azaleas.  Spring bloom is followed by a second late summer to early fall blooming.  Leaves are dark green.  Plant has a rounded growth shape.  Typical plant height in 10 years is 3 to 4 feet, but it can grow up to 6 feet tall with comparable widths.  Plant is hardy to -10°F (-23°C).  Hybridized by Robert Lee.

 
R. 'Aromi Sunny-side-up'

Deciduous Azalea: 'Aromi Sunny-side-up'

Flower vivid yellow with a vivid orange-yellow blotch, tubular funnel-shaped, 1¾" across, moderately scented.  Flat truss holds 8 to 16 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, 2¾" long, dull, yellow-green, deciduous.  Shrub grows to 6 ft. or more in 10 years.  Cold hardy to 10°F (-12°C).  Hybridized by Aromi.

Photos (top to bottom): Steve Henning, Sally and John Perkins, courtesy of Corrina S. Murray, Bob Stelloh.

Prior Years Selections for South 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.