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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2017


South Central USA Region

R. 'Cynosure'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Cynosure'

Flower purplish pink at margins, shading to a very pale purple center with an orange speckled flare, openly funnel-shaped, wavy edges, 3" to 3¾" across, slightly fragrant.  Held in dome-shaped truss of 10 flowers.  Blooms late midseason.  Leaves narrowly elliptic, broadly acute apex, cuneate base, 5" to 6" long, slightly convex, retained 2-3 years.  Dense, spreading shrub.  Typical height: 3 ft. in 10 years.  Plant is cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Hybridized by Shapiro.

 
R. 'Shorty'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Shorty'

Flower white with pink mottling at edges both inside and on reverse, tubular funnel-shaped to widely funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, ¾"-1" across.  Flowers fade to light pink or white.  Held in terminal clusters of multiple buds each with 3 - 5 flowers.  A 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 3 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -10°F (-23°C).  Hybridized by Delp.

 
R. 'Fashion'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Fashion'

Flower deep pink with a purplish-red blotch, single, 2" across, hose-in-hose, dark red anthers.  Inflorescence 2-4 flowered.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic, about ¾" long, acute apex, cuneate base.  Upright habit.  Grows to a typical height of 6 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -5°F (-21°C).  Raised to first flower by Morrison.

 
R. 'Golden Oriole'

Deciduous Azalea: 'Golden Oriole'

Flower brilliant yellow with a deep orange blotch, single, funnel-shaped, 2⅓" across.  Ball-shaped truss hold 8-15 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic to obovate, acute apex, cuneate base, mid green, bronze-colored when young and in fall, deciduous.  Upright growth habit.  Grows to a typical height of 8 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C).  Raised by the Waterers at Knap Hill, Surrey, England.

Photos (top to bottom) by Richard Gustafson, Ron Knight, Joe Coleman, Odo Tschetsch courtesy of Deutsche Genbank Rhododendron.

Prior Years Selections for South Central USA Region

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

 

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004


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