|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2026 South East USA Region |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Michele Raley' Sold under the trade name Southgate Brandi. Flower pink with deep pink, ruffled edges, openly funnel-shaped, 2-3" across. Ball-shaped truss. Blooms midseason. Leaves narrowly elliptic, apiculate apex, cuneate base, large, glossy, dark green. Typical height: 5 ft. in 10 years. Cold hardy to -10°F (-23°C). Heat and humidity tolerant. Hybridized by Thornton. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Rhein's Luna' Flower light purple at edges shading lighter in throat, no markings, openly funnel-shaped, 1¾" across. Ball-shaped truss has 4-6 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, convex, 2¾" to 3⅛" long, semi-glossy, moderate olive green. Open growth habit. Grows to a typical height of 5 ft. in 10 years. Plant and bud hardy to -15°F (-26°C). Hybridized by Rhein. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Evergreen Azalea: 'Harris Vibrant' Flower yellowish white, with a broad band of vivid purplish red at the margins, with a faint blotch of tiny, deep purplish pink dots on the dorsal lobe, funnel-shaped, wavy-edged, single, about 2⅛" across. Truss holds 2 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaves elliptic, broadly acute apex, cuneate base, slightly upcurved margins, 1¾" long, semi-glossy, strong yellow green, retained 2 years. Intermediate plant habit. Grows approximately to 2 ft. tall in 10 years. Cold hardy to -5°F (-21°C). Hybridized by Harris. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Deciduous Azalea: 'Pennsylvania' Flower light pink, orangish yellow throat, orange blotch on upper lobe, tubular funnel-shaped, fragrant. Inflorescence has 4-5 flowers. Blooms very late. Leaves obovate, olive green, coppery yellow in Fall, deciduous. Upright plant habit. Typical height: 5 ft. in 10 years. Cold hardy to -20°F (-29°C). Hybridized by Mezitt. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Photos (top to bottom): courtesy of Southern Living magazine, Don Hyatt, Bob Stelloh, courtesy of Jenkins Arboretum. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Prior Years Selections for South East USA Region |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||