Elepidote Rhododendron: R. makinoi

Flower pink to off-white, sometimes spotted crimson, funnel-campanulate shaped, 1⅛" - 1⅔" across.  Tight truss has 5-8 flowers.  Blooms late midseason.  Leaves lanceolate, acute apex, re-curved, up to 7" long with thick white to tawny indumentum.  Dense, round plant habit.  Typical height: 3 ft. in 10 years.  Plant is cold hardy to -10°F (-23°C).  Native species found growing in the wild in Japan in Central Honshu.

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'PJM Elite'

Flower strong reddish purple, openly funnel-shaped, wavy lobed, 1½" across.  Flat, ball-shaped truss holds 10-15 flowers.  Blooms early midseason.  Leaves elliptic, obtuse apex, cuneate base, 1¼" to 2" long, convex, glossy, green, turning bronze mahogany in winter.  Upright, dense growth habit.  Grows to a typical height of 4 ft. in 10 years.  Plant is hardy to -25°F (-32°C).  Hybridized by Mezitt.

Evergreen Azalea: 'Girard's Rose'

Flower deep pink inside, outside deep yellowish-pink, openly funnel-shaped, wavy-edged, 2" across.  Trusses hold 3 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic, apiculate apex, cuneate base, 1½" long, glossy, dark yellowish-green, retained 3 years.  Dark orange to scarlet colored in winter.  Upright, broad, well-branched plant habit.  Grows to a height of about 3 ft. in 10 yrs.  Hardy to -10° F (-23° C).  Hybridized by Girard.

Deciduous Azalea: 'Mandarin Lights'

Flower strong reddish orange with darker veining and strong orange blotch on upper lobe, narrow tubular funnel-shaped, wavy edged, about 2¼" across.  Ball-shaped truss has 7-10 flowers.  Blooms late midseason to late.  Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, flat, 4" long, moderate olive green, deciduous.  Upright, slightly rounded, open growth habit.  Height: 6 ft. in 10 years.  Cold hardy to -35°F (-37°C).  Hybridized at the University of Minnesota.