2011 Rhododendron of the Year Awards

Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Janet Blair' Parentage unknown Flower very pale pinkish mauve with golden bronze rays on the upper lobe, widely funnel-shaped, fragrant, frilly edges, about 3½" across. Held in tall truss of about 13 flowers. Blooms midseason. Leaves elliptic, with a slight ripple, 5" long, glossy, dark green. Dense, mounding, well-branched growth habit. Grows wider than tall. Grows to a typical height of 6 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to -15° F (-26° C). Heat tolerant. Hybridized by Dexter.
	Photo by Sally and John Perkins

	Lepidote Rhododendron 'Ginny Gee' R. keiskei, prostrate form x R. racemosum Flower white with pink mottling at edges both inside and on reverse, tubular funnel-shaped to widely funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, ¾"-1" across. Flowers fade to light pink or white. Held in terminal clusters of multiple buds each with 3 - 5 flowers. An early midseason bloomer. Leaves elliptic, acute apex, cuneate base, 1¼" long, dark matte green, retained 2 - 3 years. Some reddening of leaves in winter. Compact, very dense growth habit. Grows to an approximate height of 2 ft. in 10 yrs. Cold hardy to -10° F (-23° C). Hybridized by Berg.
Photo by Ron Knight

Evergreen Azalea: R. 'Rosebud' R. 'Louise Gable' x R. 'Caroline Gable' Flower strong purplish-pink, flushed with slight veining of deep purplish pink, broadly funnel-shaped, double, hose-in hose, 1⅛" across. Blooms midseason. Leaves elliptic, 1" to 1½" long, glossy, mid green. Spreading, dense habit. Grows to a height of 4 ft. in 10 yrs. Hardy to -10°F (-23°C). Received the ARS Award of Merit in 1972 and the First Class Certificate in 1975 from the Royal Horticultural Society. Hybridized by Gable.
	Photo by Sally and John Perkins

	Deciduous Azalea: R. cumberlandense Species rhododendron in subgenus Pentanthera section Pentanthera subsection Pentanthera Flower usually orange to orange red, sometimes yellow, funnel-shaped, 1" - 1¾" across. Inflorescence 3 to 7 flowered. Blooms late to very late. Leaves ovate to obovate, acute apex often mucronate, up to 3" long, deciduous. Bushy growth habit. Grows to about 4 ft. tall in 10 years. Hardy to -15°F (-26°C). Found in the wild growing on ridge tops, mixed deciduous forests in AL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, and VA.
Photo by Karel Bernady