Rhododendron 'Tony'
Alfred S. Martin, Mountaintop, Pa.
R. 'Tony', a dwarf red Shammarello hybrid
Photo by Alfred MartinIn 1943 Tony Shammarello crossed 'Boule de Niege' with a selected red catawbiense and after several years of selection introduced the plant in the illustration and named it 'Tony'. His primary objective was to obtain a dwarf red, which he certainly achieved. The bright cherry red trusses are at their best in late May and are bud hardy to -20 degrees F. The leaves are 4" long and 1¾" wide, thick dark green and slightly crinkled. The plant habit is extremely sturdy and compact.
