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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2007


South West USA Region

R. 'Taurus'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Taurus'

Flower vivid and strong red with darker throat and black spots on dorsal lobe, campanulate, 3½" across.  Large ball-shaped truss holds about about 16 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Deep red winter buds.  Leaves elliptic with acute apex and rounded base, about 7" long, dark green, retained 3 years.  Afternoon sun protection is preferred.  Grows to a typical height of about 6 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -5°F (-21°C).  Hybridized by Mossman.  RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993.

 
R. 'Else Frye'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Else Frye'

Flower white flushed pink to rose outside, with a bright yellow throat, wavy lobes, broadly funnel-shaped, 4" across, very fragrant.  3 to 6 semi-erect flowers held in lax trusses.  A early midseason bloomer.  Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, 3" long, dark green with deeply impressed veins.  Stems, leaves and buds densely covered with light brown hairs.  Leaf undersides scaly, glaucous, light green.  Bark reddish-brown, fissured gray.  Grows to an approximate height of 4 ft. in 10 years.  Requires a temperate growing location; hardy to 15°F (-9° C).  Hybridized by Bowman.

 
R. 'Alaska'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Alaska'

Flower white with yellow-green blotch in throat, single, some semi-double, 2" across.  Blooms late midseason.  Leaves elliptic with acute apex and cuneate base, medium green.  Round growth habit.  Grows to a height of 5 ft. in 10 years.  Hardy to 5°F (-15°C).  Sun tolerant.  Hybridized by Bobbink & Atkins.

 
R. 'Gibraltar'

Deciduous Azalea: 'Gibraltar'

Flower vivid orange, flushed red orange, deep crimson in bud, tubular funnel-shaped, frilly edges, 2⅜" to 3" across.  Ball-shaped truss holds 10-12 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Mildew resistant.  Upright growth habit.  Grows to a typical height of 5 ft. in 10 years.  Hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Hybridized by Edmund de Rothschild.

Photos (top to bottom) by Doug Irish-Hosler, Dick Jones, courtesy Monrovia Nursery, Harold Greer.

Prior Years Selections for South West USA Region

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

 

2006

2005

2004


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