American Rhododendron Society Web Site ARS
navigation menu background

Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2021


Mid-Atlantic USA Region

R. 'Bea MacDonald'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Bea MacDonald'

Flower light orange-yellow with 0.25" edging of strong pink and a red-brown flare, widely funnel-campanulate, crinkled edges, 3.1" across.  Lax truss has 7-9 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves narrowly elliptic, broadly acute apex, rounded base, dull green.  Spreading, dense plant habit.  Grows to a typical height of 2 ft. in 10 years.  Plant and bud hardy to -5°F (-21°C).  Hybridized by Cowles.

 
R. keiskei var. keiskei

Lepidote Rhododendron: R. keiskei var. keiskei

Flower pale yellow, widely funnel shaped, 1⅛" - 2" across.  Inflorescence 2-6 flowered.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, acute apex, cuneate or rounded base, 1¼" to 3" long, bronze-colored when young.  Open growth habit.  Grows to a typical height of 2 ft. in 10 years.  Plant and bud hardy to 0°F (-18°C).  Native to Japan (widely distributed, Honshu to Yakushima).

 
R. 'Wagner's White Spider'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Wagner's White Spider'

Flower white with faint yellowish-green spots on the top three petals, single, 3" across.  Petals are strap-shaped.  Truss holds 2-4 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves oblong, broadly acute to rounded apex, cuneate base, 2" long, flat edges, matte, moderate green.  Intermediate plant habit.  Grows to a typical height of about 3 ft. in 10 years.  Plant and bud cold hardy to at least -5°F (-21°C).  Hybridized by Wagner.

 
R. periclymenoides

Deciduous Azalea: R. periclymenoides

Flower pink, rarely white, tube often deeper colored, funnel-shaped, fragrant.  Truss holds 6-15 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic to oblong-obovate, up to 4" long, bright green, deciduous.  Usually a non-stoloniferous shrub.  Grows to 5 ft. tall in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Native species found in the eastern United States growing from New England to Georgia, and westward to Ohio and Tennessee.

Photos (top to bottom) by Don Hyatt, Sally and John Perkins, Don Hyatt, Chris Klapwijk.

Prior Years Selections for Mid-Atlantic USA Region

2024

2023

2022

2021

 

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004


American Rhododendron Society
P.O. Box 43, Craryville, NY 12521
Ph: 631-533-0375   E-Mail: member@arsoffice.org
©1998-2024, ARS, All rights reserved.