2007 Rhododendron of the Year Awards

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Scintillation' Parentage unknown Flower strong purplish-pink shaded lighter towards center, flared greenish-yellow markings in throat, outside deep purplish-pink, openly funnel-shaped, wavy edges, 2½" across. Held in ball-shaped trusses of 11-15 flowers. Several forms exist of this hybrid. Blooms midseason. Leaves oblong, apiculate apex, rounded base, glossy, deep green, waxy texture. Broad habit. Grows to a typical height of 5 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to -15° F (-26° C). Hybridized by Dexter.
	Photo by Boris Bauer

	Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Windbeam' R. 'Conestoga' seedling Flower opens white tinged pale apricot, after 3-4 days flowers become light purplish pink. Flower is funnel-shaped, wavy-edged, ¾" across and has moderate reddish orange and strong red spots on the dorsal lobe. Ball-shaped truss holds 8 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaf is elliptic to lanceolate, with obtuse apex and cuneate base, 2" to 2¾" long, moderate olive green. Willowy, leggy growth habit. Typical height: 3 ft. in 10 yrs. Plant is cold hardy to -25° F (-32° C). Hybridized by Nearing.
Photo by Eleanor Philp

Evergreen Azalea: 'Madame Butterfly' R. 'Fedora' x R. mucronatum Flower white flushed with lavender, with chocolate/chartreuse spotting on the upper petals, single, 2½" across. Blooms midseason. Grows to 5 ft. in height in 10 years. Hardy to -15º F (-26º C). Spreading growth habit. Initially raised by Deerfield Nursery.
	Photo by Leon Swell

	Deciduous Azalea: R. vaseyi Species rhododendron in subgenus Pentanthera section Rhodora Flower pale to deep pink, occasionally white, with green throat and reddish-orange spots, widely funnel-shaped to rotate-campanulate, wing-like lobes, up to 2" across. Held in clusters of 4 - 8 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaves elliptic, tapering at each end, margins often undulate, up to 5" long, dark green with paler underside, deciduous. Upright, spreading habit. Grows to a typical height of 5 ft. in 10 years. Hardy to -15° F (-26° C). Named for George S. Vasey who discovered the species. Found in the wild in the mountains of western North Carolina.
Photo by Henk Borsje