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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2006


Great Lakes and South Central USA Region

R. 'Bravo!'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Bravo!'

Flower light purplish pink shading lighter in center, sparse brown spotting, campanulate, 2⅝" across.  Ball-shaped truss holds 11-12 flowers.  Blooms late midseason.  Leaves elliptic, apiculate apex, rounded base, flat, 6" long, semi-glossy, dark green.  Grows to a typical height of 5 ft. in 10 years.  Compact growth habit.  Prefers some shade to prolong flower color.  Cold hardy to -25°F (-32°C).  Hybridized by Leach.

   
R. 'April Rose'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'April Rose'

Flower purplish red, widely funnel-shaped, double, 1½" to 2" across, slightly fragrant.  Terminal truss hold 3 to 4 flowers.  Blooms early.  Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, flat, 2" to 4" long, deep green, turn reddish-bronze in fall.  Broad, upright habit.  Grows to a typical height of 3 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -25°F (-32°C).  Hybridized by Mehlquist.

 
R. 'Girard's Hot Shot'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Girard's Hot Shot'

Flower dark reddish orange with dark red or maroon spotting, openly funnel-shaped, wavy lobed, about 2½" across.  Ball-shaped truss holds 3 - 5 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves broadly elliptic to ovate, mucronate apex, rounded base, about 1" long, glossy, retained 3 years.  Rounded, well-branched plant habit.  Typically grows to a height of 2 ft. in 8 years.  Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Hybridized by Girard.

 
R. 'Golden Lights'

Deciduous Azalea: 'Golden Lights'

Flower light orange-yellow suffused strong reddish orange, throat strong yellowish pink, strong orange-yellow blotch on dorsal lobe, tubular funnel-shaped, 3" across, very fragrant.  Flat-shaped truss holds 10 flowers.  Blooms late midseason.  Leaves between oblanceolate and narrowly obovate, acute apex, narrowly cuneate base, 3½" long, moderate olive green, deciduous.  Mildew resistant.  Rounded habit.  Grows to a typical height of 4 ft. in 10 years.  Very cold hardy, surviving to -30°F (-34°C).  Hybridized by Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Photos (top to bottom) by Boris Bauer, Harold Greer, courtesy of ARS plant name register, Sally and John Perkins.

Prior Years Selections for Great Lakes USA Region

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

 

2005

2004

Prior Years Selections for South Central USA Region

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

 

2005

2004


American Rhododendron Society
P.O. Box 43, Craryville, NY 12521
Ph: 631-533-0375   E-Mail: member@arsoffice.org
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