2006 Rhododendron of the Year Awards

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Pink Pearl' R. 'George Hardy' x R. 'Broughtonii' Flower opens pink, fading to blush, paler at edges with a ray of reddish brown spots. Large conical truss holds about about 18 flowers. Blooms midseason. Leaves are approximately 5" long, thick and pale green. Upright, open growth habit. Prefers full sun for more dense growth. Grows to a typical height of about 6 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to -5° F (-21° C). Hybridized by J. Waterer. Winner of a number of awards in England over more than a half century: Award of Merit 1897; First Class Certificate 1900; Award of Garden Merit 1952.
	Photo by Eleanor Philp

	Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Mi Amor' R. lindleyi x R. nuttallii Flower white with yellow throat, trumpet-shaped, 6" across, fragrant. Flat-shaped truss has 5 - 7 flowers. A midseason bloomer. Leaves textured, dark green above, gray-green below. Open, rather straggly plant habit. Grows to an approximate height of 6 ft. in 10 yrs. Requires a temperate growing location; hardy to 15° F (-9° C). Hybridized by Frances and Maurie Sumner. Award of Merit winner in 1975.
Photo by Don Wallace

Evergreen Azalea: 'Hexe' R. 'Amoenum' x R. 'Duc de Nassau' Flower strong purplish red, about 1¾" across, single, hose-in-hose. Blooms midseason. Leaves small, glossy, dark green. Dense, mounding growth habit. Grows to an approximate height of 4 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to 5° F (-15° C). Hybridized by Forster. Award of Merit bestowed in 1907.
	Photo by Harold Greer

	Deciduous Azalea: Rhododendron atlanticum Species rhododendron in subgenus Pentanthera section Pentanthera Common name: coastal azalea or dwarf azalea White to white flushed pink, narrowly funnel shaped, up to 1½" across, fragrant. Blooms midseason. Leaves ovate or obovate to elliptic, up to 2" long, mid green to blue-green, deciduous. Loosely-branched shrub. Spreads by underground stolons, can develop into a thicket. Grows to a height of approximately 3 ft. in 10 yrs. Plant hardy to -15° F (-26° C). Native to eastern North America (Pennsylvania to Georgia coastal plains).
Photo by Sally and John Perkins