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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2023


Great Lakes USA Region

R. 'Pink Parasol'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Pink Parasol'

Flower inside opens light purplish pink, spotted strong orange-yellow on dorsal lobe, darker pink on the outside, rotate campanulate shape, 3" across.  Fades over time to clear pale then to white with darker band on exterior of each lobe.  Truss holds 13 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves narrowly to broadly elliptic, flat, bluish green, heavy tan indumentum.  Leaves retained 4 years.  Dense plant habit, grows twice as wide as tall.  Grows to a height of about 2 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -20°F (-29°C).  Selected by Hanger.

 
R. 'Ramapo'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Ramapo'

Flower pinkish violet, held in small clusters.  Very floriferous plant.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves bluish-green, elliptic, very aromatic.  Dense and very compact habit.  Grows well in sun or partial shade, being more compact in sun.  Reaches a typical height of 2 ft. in 10 years.  Plant is cold hardy to -25°F (-32°C).  Hybridized by Nearing.

 
R. 'Boudoir'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Boudoir'

Flower violet-red with a darker spotted blotch, funnel-shaped, single, 1½" across.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic, about 1½" long, mid green.  Typical plant height is 5 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to 5°F (-15°C).  Hybridized by Gable.

 
R. arborescens

Deciduous Azalea: R. arborescens

Flower white, often tinged pink, may have a yellow blotch, reddish-purple style and stamens, tubular-shaped, up to 2" across, fragrant.  Truss holds 3-7 flowers.  Blooms late to very late.  Leaves ovate or obovate to elliptic, up to 4" long, glossy, mid green, deciduous.  Upright plant habit.  Height: 7 ft. or more in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Native species found in the wild in eastern North America (Pennsylvania to Georgia and Alabama).

Photos (top to bottom): Sally and John Perkins, Ken Cox, Tijs Huisman, Ken Cox.

Prior Years Selections for Great Lakes USA Region

2024

 

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004


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