|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2026 Mid-Atlantic USA Region |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Holden52' Sold under the trade name Southgate Splendor. Flower moderate pink with regions of white, prominent blotch of dark red spotting on the upper petal, openly funnel-shaped, 2½" across. Round truss has 10 to 15 flowers. Blooms midseason. Leaves obovate, shallow mucronate apex, broad attenuate base, 2½-4⅓" long, slightly recurved, glossy when mature, dark green. Dense, mounding plant habit. Grows to a typical height of 5½ ft. tall in 10 years. Heat tolerant, and resistant to Phytophthera root rot. Cold hardy to -15°F (-25°C). Patented (PP30235) by Steve Krebs as part of a controlled breeding project. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Mister Blue' Flower inside light purple blending to very pale purple at throat with light purple mid-vein, two rays of strong greenish yellow spots extending from throat below upper lobe, outside light purple, funnel-shaped, 2" across. Dome shaped truss has 3-4 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, flat margins, 2¾" long, matte, grayish olive green, retained 2 years. Reaches a typical height of 6 ft. in 10 years. Plant is cold hardy to -5°F (-21°C). Selected by Gable. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Evergreen Azalea: 'Donald H. Voss' Flower inside vivid purple, with slight tinting of light purple, deep purplish red blotch on 3 dorsal lobes, outside vivid purple, saucer-shaped, wavy edges, semi to fully double, 2½" across. Two flowers per terminal bud. Blooms midseason. Leaves elliptic, broadly acute apex, cuneate base, flat margins, 1⅛" long, semi-glossy, moderate olive green. Intermediate plant habit. Grows to 3 ft. in height in 10 yrs. Hardy to 0°F (-18°C). Hybridized by Klimavicz. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Deciduous Azalea: 'Pink and Sweet' Flower deep purplish-pink with a dark pink central stripe edged on each side with yellow flare on dorsal lobe, openly funnel-shaped, wavy edges, 1½" across. Dome-shaped truss hold 7 flowers. Blooms late. Leaves obovate, broadly acute apex, cuneate base, down-curved margins, 2½" long, glossy dark green. Upright, dense plant habit. Grows to about 4 ft. tall in 10 years. Hardy to -20°F (-29°C). Hybridized by Mezitt. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Photos (top to bottom) by Don Hyatt, Don Hyatt, Joseph Klimavicz, courtesy of Weston Nurseries. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Prior Years Selections for Mid-Atlantic USA Region |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||