2008 Rhododendron of the Year Awards

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Noyo Chief' R. arboreum ssp. nilagiricum hybrid Flower rose red, unmarked, broadly campanulate, 2½" across. Held in ball-shaped truss with 16 flowers. Blooms early midseason to midseason. Leaves elliptic, up to 7" long, very glossy, slightly bullate, dark green, sparse fawn indumentum, leaves retained 2 years. New growth is bronze. Vigorous grower. Grows to a height of 8 - 10 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to 5° F (-15° C). Bowman purchased the plant from Brandt in 1952 who had it from Reuthe in 1945.
	Photo by Herbert Spady

	Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Ginny Gee' R. keiskei, prostrate form x R. racemosum Flower white with pink mottling at edges both inside and on reverse, tubular funnel-shaped to widely funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, 3/4" - 1" across. Flowers fade to light pink or white. Held in terminal clusters of multiple buds each with 3 - 5 flowers. An early midseason bloomer. Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, 1¼" long, dark matte green, retained 2 - 3 years. Some reddening of leaves in winter. Compact, very dense growth habit. Grows to an approximate height of 2 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to -10° F (-23° C). Hybridized by Berg.
Photo by Ron Knight

Evergreen Azalea: 'Ward's Ruby' Parentage unknown Flower dark red, lower part of dorsal lobe a deeper color, campanulate, single, about 1¼" across. Lax truss holds 2-3 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaves elliptic, up to 1⅛" long, glossy, dark green. Leaves turn reddish-purple in winter. Dense, compact growth habit. Grows to a height of 3 ft. in 10 years. Hardy to 5° F (-15° C). Hybridizer unknown.
	Photo by Marilynne Mellander

	Deciduous Azalea: 'Mount Saint Helens' R. 'Cecile' x unnamed hybrid Flower yellowish pink with a vivid reddish-orange blotch, widely funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, 2½" across. Ball-shaped truss hold 11 flowers. Blooms late midseason. Leaves oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, mucronate, narrowly cuneate, 3" to 4" long, moderate yellowish-green. Deciduous leaves turn a beautiful orange-yellow in the fall. Upright habit. Grows to 6 ft. tall in 10 years. Plant is cold hardy to -25° F (-32° C). Hybridized by Girard.
Photo by Sally and John Perkins