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Rhododendron of the Year Plant Awards: 2025


Great Lakes USA Region

R. 'Haaga'

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Haaga'

Flower deep purplish pink, with brownish red spots on dorsal lobe, openly funnel-shaped, wavy-edged, 2⅛" to 2¾" across.  Held in dome-shaped truss with 15-20 flowers.  Blooms late season.  Leaves oblanceolate, about 5" long, glossy, dark green.  New shoots sulphur yellow/primrose yellow.  Upright growth habit.  Grows to a typical height of 5 ft. tall in 10 years.  Hardy to -20°F (-29°C).  Hybridized by Uosukainen.

 
R. 'Midnight Ruby'

Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Midnight Ruby'

Flower strong reddish purple with yellowish brown eye, openly funnel-shaped, 1½" across, frilly-edged lobes.  Truss has 10-15 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic, apiculate apex, cuneate base, convex, wavy margins, bullate and glossy above.  Foliage almost black in autumn, and remains that color through the bloom period.  Dense plant habit.  Grows to a height of 2 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to -25°F (-32°C)  Hybridized by Mezitt.

 
R. 'Hino-white'

Evergreen Azalea: 'Hino-white'

Flower single, white, unmarked, funnel-shaped, 1¾" to 2" across.  Truss holds 3 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic, 1⅛" to 1½" long, olive green.  Spreading, dense plant habit.  Grows twice as wide as tall.  Grows to a typical height of 1 ft. in 10 yrs.  Cold hardy to -20°F (-29°C).  Hybridized by Shammarello.

 
R. 'Candy Lights'

Deciduous Azalea: 'Candy Lights'

Flower inside light purplish pink, outside tube vivid purplish red, tubular funnel-shaped, 2"-2⅜" across, strongly scented. Dome-shaped truss has 8-10 flowers.  Blooms midseason.  Leaves elliptic, broadly acute apex, cuneate base, flat margins, 2⅜"-2¾" long, semi-glossy, moderate olive green, with white hairs scattered on leaf above and on veins below, deciduous.  Grows to a typical height of 4-5 ft. in 10 years.  Upright, arching plant habit.  Bud hardy to -30°F (-34°C).  Hybridized at University of Minnesota.

Photos (top to bottom): Sally and John Perkins, courtesy of Monrovia Nursery, courtesy of Dawes Arboretum, courtesy of U. Minnesota.

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

2006

2005

2004


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