2007 Rhododendron of the Year Awards

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Peppermint Twist' R. hyperythrum x R. 'Hexe' Flower pink with a white throat and red spotting on dorsal lobe, funnel-shaped, wavy edges, 2¾" across. Color changes with age to white with pale pink margins. Trusses holds about 12 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaves oblong, de-curved margins, broadly acute apex, rounded base, 4-1/2" long, glossy green, retained for 2 years. Rounded, dense plant habit. Typical height: 4 ft. in 10 yrs. Plant is hardy to -10° F (-23° C). Tolerates humidity well. Hybridized by Thornton.
	Photo by Harold Greer

	Lepidote Rhododendron: 'Mary Fleming' (R. racemosum x R. keiskei) x R. keiskei Flower cream flushed strong to light purplish pink, darker blotch in throat, campanulate-shaped, wavy edged, about 1" across. Buds hold 2 or 3 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaves approximately 2" long, dull, dark green. Leaves are bronze when new and in the winter. Plant is sun and heat tolerant. Typical height: 2 ft. in 10 yrs. Plant is hardy to -15°F (-26°C). Prefers some shade for best performance. Hybridized by Nearing.
Photo by June Bouchard

Evergreen Azalea: 'Purple Splendor' R. yedoense var. poukhanense x R. 'Hexe' Flower vivid reddish-purple with darker blotch, openly funnel-shaped, 2" across, frilly edges, hose-in-hose. Very floriferous. Blooms midseason. Leaves elliptic with acute apex and cuneate base, about 1" long, medium green. Dense, spreading habit. Grows to a height of 4 ft. in 10 years. Cold hardy to -15° F (-26° C). Hybridized by Gable.
	Photo by Buck Clagett

	Deciduous Azalea: 'Mount Saint Helens' R. 'Cecile' x unnamed hybrid Flower yellowish pink with a vivid reddish-orange blotch, widely funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, 2½" across. Ball-shaped truss hold 11 flowers. Blooms late midseason. Leaves oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, mucronate, narrowly cuneate, 3" to 4" long, moderate yellowish-green. Deciduous leaves turn a beautiful orange-yellow in the fall. Upright habit. Grows to 6 ft. tall in 10 years. Plant is cold hardy to -25° F (-32° C). Hybridized by Girard.
Photo by Sally and John Perkins