Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2024 South East USA Region |
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Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Parker's Pink' Flower purplish-red fading to white in throat with red spots that are dense in throat thinning out to two rays of spots, openly funnel-shaped, wavy lobed, 3½" across, fragrant. Truss holds about 12 flowers. Blooms late midseason. Leaves elliptic, 6½" to 8" long, yellow-green, retained 2 years. Grows to a height of approximately 5 ft. in 10 years. Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C). Hybridized by Dexter. |
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Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Blue Ridge' Flower vivid violet fading to pale violet in throat, outside darker, widely funnel-shaped, 1⅞" across, even rounded lobes, slightly fragrant. Dome-shaped truss has 4-5 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaves elliptic, acute with apiculus apex, cuneate base, tips down-turned, 1¼" long, grayish moderate olive green, retained 2 years. Semi-dwarf, rounded plant habit. Grows to about 2 ft. in 10 years. Cold hardy to -10°F (-23°C). Hybridized by Haag. |
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Evergreen Azalea: 'Pink Ruffles' Flower strong purplish pink, funnel-shaped, ruffled edges, 2" across, semi-double and hose-in-hose. Blooms early midseason. Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, about 1" long, initially light green darkening with age. Grows approximately to 4 ft. tall in 10 years. Cold hardy to 5°F (-15°C). Hybridized by Bobbink & Atkins. |
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Deciduous Azalea: R. arborescens Flower white, often tinged pink, may have a yellow blotch, with reddish-purple style and stamens, tubular shaped, fragrant. Inflorescence 3-7 flowered. Blooms late to very late. Leaves ovate or obovate to elliptic, up to 4" long, glossy, deciduous. Tall shrub or small tree. Grows to about 6 ft. tall in 10 years. Cold hardy to -15°F (-26°C). Native species found in the eastern United States from Pennsylvania to Georgia and westward to Alabama. |
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Photos (top to bottom): Boris Bauer, Harold Greer, Joe Coleman, Kenneth Cox. |
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Prior Years Selections for South East USA Region |
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