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Rhododendons

The state flower of Washington is the Pacific rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum), which means "rose tree with large leaves."  There are more than 850 species in the Genus (group) Rhododendron and they are native to the temperate regions of North America, Europe, Asia, as well as the tropical regions of southeast Asia and northern Australia. None are indigenous to Africa or South America. There is an enormous diversity of size and shape in this group of plants from prostrate groundcovers growing no more than a few inches high to trees more than 100 feet tall. The wild rhododendrons are found from sea level to 19,000 feet in elevation where they occur in a variety of habitats including alpine regions, coniferous and broadleaved woodlands, temperate rain forests, and even the tropics.  People have been artificially creating hybrids for many years and there are now tens of thousands of hybrid rhododendrons. 

 

America (Koster)

[(Parsons Grandiflorum) x (dark red hybrid)]

5' -25º Very Hardy

An ironclad red of Catawba heritage (native to the North East), America boasts huge rosy red flower clusters with yellow stamens. The flowers are very visible sitting high above the foliage.  Even at a young age, America will typically have a bud on every terminal.  It grows 5 to 6 feet tall in 10 years and holds its leaves well.  
 

 

Anah Kruschke (Kruschke)

[(ponticum-Seedling) x ( )]

6' -15º Sun Tolerant

A great plant for that spot in the sun.  The beautiful flowers are reddish-purple with a darker purple eye on the upper lobe of each floret.  The deep dark green foliage of this plant is striking, full and robust.  This is a strong growthing plant that fits into a wide range of conditions.
 

 

Appleblossom (Dexter)

[(fortunei - Hybrid) x ( )] 

3' -25º Sun Tolerant

Every home gardener has a picture in his/her mind of a beautiful apple tree in full bloom.  Shades of pink, white, and cream with a light touch of yellow in the throat.  This rhododendron has the very same colors along with beautiful dark green leaves that cover the plant.  The new foliage is lightly covered with a soft down-like substance (tomentum), and the undersides of the leaves are completely covered with creamy soft felt (indumentum).

April Rose

[(minus) x (dauricum-Var. Album)] x [(mucronulatum-Var. Cornell Pink) x (dauricum)]

4' -25º Sun Tolerant

Named for its rose-shaped flowers, April Rose has deep, double, purple flowers on a compact dense shrub. This lepidote is truly a "must have".  Regardless of climate, everyone wants this plant once they see it in bloom. It is my first to bloom in Indiana a week before the PJMs.  The foliage is deep, glossy, green turning to mahogany-red in the fall.  The best of the "April" series and very unique looking!
 

 

Casanova (Leach)

[(Newburyport Belle) x (Good Hope)]

4' -25º  Very Hardy

Each spring pink flower buds open to pale yellow flowers with a bright orange flare while the outside of each flower maintains its beautiful pink color.  The foliage is glossy green.  This Rhodie has been used extensively to create other hybrids, hence the name Casanova.
 

 

Catawbiense Boursault (Boursault)

[(catawbiense-Selection) x ( )]

6' -25º  Very Hardy

Another rock hardy variety with a nice habit and rose-lilac colored flowers.  The large rounded leaves are well supported by a strong sturdy plant.
 

 

Chinoides (Waterer)

[(ponticum hybrid x ()]

4' -15º  Hardy

One of the best whites, Chinoides has a nice low growing habit.  Each fall this plant covers itself with a large number of buds, preparing for spring.  It is both sun and heat tolerant, making it perfect for the difficult Southeast.
 

 

Grandiflorum 'Light & Grand' (Waterer)

[(catawbiense - Hybrid) x ( )] 

6' -25º  Very Hardy

Long lasting lilac flowers on a nicely formed plant with long glossy foliage.  This is an excellent choice for severe climates.  It makes a perfect background plant or a single specimen.

 

Lavender Princess (Dexter )

[(fortunei) x (catawbiense - Hybrid)]

5' -20º  Hardy

A wonderful multi-colored flower of lavender, light pink and lilac.  This hardy plant is clothed with 6 to 8 inch glossy green leaves.  The leaf margins are cupped downwards showing off the prominent dark green veins.  Vibrant yellow stems and red petioles add out-of-season color to one of the best bi-color rhododendrons.

 

Lee's Dark Purple (Lee)

[(catawbiense -Hybrid) x ( )]

5' -15º  Stalwart

Quite narrow and pointed dark green leaves with a slight twist on the end provide the setting for dark purple flowers with a shiny green eye on this 'old-time' standard rhododendron.  This plant has been reliable and popular for nearly a century.

Mardi Gras (Bovee)

[(yakushimanum 'Koichiro Wada') x (Vanessa)]

3' -15º  Sun Tolerant

Mardi Gras begins with redder flowers than most "yaks", but fade to white as expected. From ball-shaped trusses of 11-12 flowers, buds open to funnel-shaped, frilly, 2½" flowers with purplish-pink margins.   It is a super heavy mid-season bloomer with multiple bud sets -- even at a young age.  Typical of the "yaks", new leaves are covered with tomentum, with not-so-typical cinnamon indumentum.  The leaves are also deep, deep green and quite glossy.

 

Northern Starburst (Briggs)

[(tetrapolid PJM - colchicine treated) x (  )]

5' -29º  Very Hardy

The recently introduced lepidote rhododendron cultivar 'Northern Starburst' is a product of the  research to develop a more sturdy, garden-worthy form of the old standard 'PJM.' Rhododendron 'Northern Starburst' is a tetraploid form (extra chromosomes) that has been tested for many years at the Briggs Nursery before introduction to the trade.  Bruce Briggs was the moving force behind this industry production and marketing scheme using applied micropropagation.  
 

 

Nova Zembla (Koster)

[(Parson's Grandiflorum) x (Hardy Red Hybrid)]

5' -25º  Very Hardy

The most popular ironclad red in the Eastern United States.  Dark red flowers with darker spots.  Deep green leaves and good habit.  This variety has been growing in the U.S. since 1900.  It has passed the test of time.

 

PJM (Mezitt)

[(minus) x (dauricum)]

4' -25º  Very Hardy

Hardy, sun-tolerant, and heat-resistant, PJM is one of the easiest grown Rhodies for colder climates.  This rock hardy plant's lavender pink flowers play second place to the beautiful bronze-black Fall foliage, making it one of the most popular dwarfs in the U.S.  PJM also blooms heavily at an early age.

  PJM Elite (Mezitt)

[(carolinianum) x (dauricum var. sempervirens)]

5' -25º  Very Hardy

Another selection by Paul Mezitt at Weston Nurseries, Elite is taller and more vigorous than the other PJM clones. It is also the latest to bloom with flowers that are much pinker than other PJMs.  The slightly larger foliage turns a very bright red in early fall for about a month before settling in on the usual burgundy-purple winter foliage.  Very cold hardy and heat tolerant but dislikes wind.
 

Purple Gem (Gable)

[(fastigiatum) x (minus Carolinianum Group)]

2' -25º  Very Hardy

A dense-growing, dwarf impeditum shrub valued for its purplish-blue flowers and azalea-like foliage. Some protection from winter wind is helpful. In partial sun, Purple Gem is slow-growing to 2 feet high and spreads to 3 feet wide when mature.
 

 

Rocket (Shammarello)

[(Cunningham's White) x (red catawbiense hybrid)]

5' -15º  Sun Tolerant, Heat Resistant

This beauty is a solid mass of heavily veined six to eight inch long emerald green leaves.  Atop this lovely foliage lies full, heavily ruffled, luminous pink flowers.  If that isn't enough, the new spring growth is a blush pink color that matures to a rich green.  A definite favorite of those who grow it, this Rhodie will flourish in just about any part of the U.S.
 

Roseum Elegans (Waterer)

[(catawbiense-Hybrid) x ( )]

6' -25º  Very Hardy, Heat Resistant

Probably the most popular rhododendron in the Eastern U.S. due to its unusual ability to withstand tremendous extremes in temperature.  It is a 'Rock Hardy' vigorous performer with olive green leaves.  The flowers are tight balls of rosy-pink.
 

 

Solidarity (Schannen)

[(yakushimanum) x (Jean Marie de Montague)]

3'-4' -15º  Hardy

An incredible addition to the yak hybrids.  This plant exemplifies the best of both parents.  Excellent foliage and flowers.  Elegant green with silvery indumentum.  Flowers open bright red and gradually change to flashy pink.  This plant does very well in the Texas heat.  Very tough and thick deep green leaves which have acute tips.  Perfect habit yet vigorous.
 

 

Yaku Angel (Greer)

[(yakushimanum) x (metternichii)]

4' -20º Sun Tolerant

Long, narrow convex dark green leaves with cream colored flowerbuds completely cover this beautiful yakushimanum rhododendron.  The flower buds open soft pink and gradually turn to pristine white.  The underside of each leaf is completely covered with soft creamy indumentum.  It buds at an early age.  After all the rhododendrons bloom Angel's form and substance make it the most beautiful plant in the garden.
 

 

Yaku Princess (Shammarello)

[(yakushimanum -Var  Wada) x (King Tut)]

4' -25º  Very Hardy

One of the finest Tony Shammarello hybrids, with May flowers of soft appleblossom, marked with blush, that lighten with time.  This Rhodie will reach 3 to 4 feet in 10 years with a similar spread.  The deep green foliage is coated with a sued-like, light brown down (indumentum) on the undersides.  Rare and extra choice, Yaku Princess will grow in the sun, but it really excels in partial shade