2006 Rhododendron of the Year Awards

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Point Defiance' R. 'Anna' x R. 'Marinus Koster' Flower white in center, edged purplish-red on all lobes, fading in time to nearly pure white, of heavy substance, widely funnel-shaped, 4½" across. Buds are strong red colored. Held in trusses with 15 to 17 flowers. Blooms midseason. Leaves elliptic, mucronate apex, rounded base, 7¼" long, recurved edges, leathery, impressed mid-rib, dark green. Upright plant habit. Grows to a typical height of 6 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to -5° F (-21° C). Hybridized by Lem.
	Photo by Don Wallace

	Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Wee Bee' R. 'Patricia' x R. keiskei 'Yaku Fairy' Flower vivid red shading to pink in throat, red rays down each lobe, wavy lobes, openly funnel-shaped, 1½" across. Held in lax trusses of 3 - 5 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, 1¼" long, bronzy-red in fall. Rounded, dense, very compact habit. Low growing to a height of 1 ft. in 10 years. Plant is cold hardy to 5° F (-15° C). Hybridized by Berg. Won an Award of Excellence from the ARS in 1989.
Photo by Kenneth Cox

Evergreen Azalea: 'Silver Sword' R. 'Girard's Rose' sport Flower strong purplish-red, unmarked, openly funnel-shaped, wavy lobed, about 2" across. Dome-shaped inflorescence with 5 - 7 trusses, each 2 - 8 flowered. Blooms midseason. Leaves narrowly elliptic to elliptic, irregularly shaped, 1½" to 2" long, glossy, sparsely hairy, variegated white and green, tinged red in fall, retained 2 years. Upright, broad, well-branched plant. Grows to a typical height of 2 ft in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to 0° F (-18° C). Discovered by Meivogel.
	Photo by Harold Greer

	Deciduous Azalea: 'Washington State Centennial' (R. occidentale x R. cumberlandense) x R. 'Santiam' Flower light orange paling to white, with prominent strong orange-yellow blotch and discontinuous strong pink edge and veins, tubular funnel-shaped, very deeply ruffled edges, 3½" across, fragrant. Ball-shaped truss holds 10-12 flowers. Blooms midseason. Leaves elliptic and narrowly obovate, apiculate, cuneate, 3⅞" long, revolute, glossy, moderate yellow-green. Upright, open growth habit. Grows to a height of 5 ft. in 10 yrs. Hardy to -10° F (-23° C). Hybridized by Mossman. Selected by the Washington State Centennial Commission to honor 100 years of statehood.
Photo by Harold Greer