2009 Rhododendron of the Year Awards

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Yaku Prince' R. 'King Tut x R. degronianum ssp yakushimanum 'Koichiro Wada' Flower opens purplish-pink and ages to a lighter pink, pale purplish-pink blotch and dark reddish-orange spotting, tubular funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, 2½" across. Ball-shaped truss of 14 flowers. Blooms late midseason. Leaves narrowly elliptic to elliptic, apiculate apex, cuneate base, 5" long, olive-green, with moderately heavy dark orange-yellow indumentum, retained 3 years. Upright, rounded, well-branched plant. Typical height: 3 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to -10°F (-23°C). Hybridized by Shammarello.
	Photo by Don Kohlenberger

	Lepidote Rhododendron *keiskei* Species rhododendron in subgenus Rhododendron section Rhododendron subsection Triflora Flower pale yellow, ¾ - 1" across, widely funnel shaped. Inflorescence 2-6 flowered. Blooms early midseason. Leaves lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 1¼ - 3" long, ⅓ - 1" wide, upper surface olive to dark green, scaly below. Young leaves reddish-bronze. Very variable habit, some forms prostrate, others tall and leggy. Typical height is 2 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to 0°F (-18°C). Native to Japan (Honshu to Yakushima).
Photo by Sally and John Perkins

Evergreen Azalea: 'Wintergreen' R. nakaharai (open pollinated) Flower strong to deep pink with strong red spotting on upper three lobes, tubular funnel-shaped, wavy edges, 2½" across. Inflorescence 2-flowered. Blooms late. Leaves narrowly elliptic to elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, 1⅜" long, moderate olive green. Spreading habit. Low growing reaching a height of about 1 ft. in 10 yrs. Hardy to -5°F (-21°C). Raised from seed collected by Rokujo.
	Photo by Sally and John Perkins

	Deciduous Azalea: 'R. Weston's Innocence' R. arborescens (?) x R. viscosum ( possibly reciprocal cross ) Flower white with very pale yellow dorsal flare, tubular-funnel shaped, wavy edges, 2¼" across, fragrant. Dome-shaped truss has 8 flowers. Blooms late. Leaves obovate, broadly acute apex, cuneate base, flat, 2½" long, glossy green, tinged bronze when new, deciduous. Dense plant habit. Grows to 5 ft. tall in 10 years. Very cold hardy. Survives to to -25°F (-32°C). Hybridized by Mezitt.
Photo by Sally and John Perkins