Volume 27, Number 2
April 1973
Dexter Rhododendron Cultivar Progress Report Number Two
Heman A. Howard, Horticulturist
Heritage Plantation, Sandwich, Mass.It has been a little over a year since the first Progress Report was printed. At that time copies were sent to all those replying to the original Dexter Appeal as well as to all Chapters of the American Rhododendron Society. Since then over two hundred additional requests have been received and copies of the Progress Report mailed free of charge to all making this request. This should be taken as a very encouraging sign that information pertaining to the "Dexters" is still much in demand.
Last summer preparatory work was started on our future Display Garden of Dexter Rhododendrons. An ideal site was selected extending from the southern end of the Military Museum to the west side of the new Arts and Crafts Museum. Future expansion was considered when this beautiful valley was chosen. Most of the existing trees in this area are native Black and White Oaks, Pignut Hickories, along with our Cape Cod Pitch Pines and Canada Hemlocks. These trees have been pruned of all dead wood and thinned to allow for filtered sunlight. At the same time all weed plants and undesirable undergrowth were removed.
By fall the site was ready for planting, at which time eighty Dexter Rhododendrons representing thirty-five cultivars were set out. These plants though small, varying in height from one and one-half to four feet, should adapt quickly to their new surroundings to form the nucleus for future plantings. To supplement these plants, additional Mountain-Laurels and Hollies were also planted.
At the time the last Progress Report was printed (January 1972) there were seventy-nine known Dexter cultivars in cultivation, since that time much has happened that should interest all rhododendron growers.
A well qualified group of rhododendron enthusiasts are very much interested in publishing a much needed book to include the works of several Eastern United States rhododendron hybridizers. With this in mind John C. Wister was persuaded to name, with any assistance he needed, the best of the Rhododendrons he has been growing under number for many years. This will include the plants growing in his own garden as well as those at Swarthmore College and the John T. Tyler Arboretum at Lima, Pa.
Much thought and effort went into this project by Wister and others. Several growers of Dexter Rhododendrons were contacted, the attempt being made to locate additional varieties being grown and sold by them. These names were accepted in most cases and the list has now grown to nearly 150 named cultivars.
At this time, we are seeking assistance and information from the growers of Dexter Rhododendrons, professional as well as amateur. It is a certainty that this large a number of cultivars does not differ enough to be individually named nor are all of a quality worthy of being included in this select group. It is also to be understood that one variety might rate very high in a locality where choice is limited and mediocre to poor where a large number of varieties thrive, when judging this factor should be taken into consideration. We would like to have your opinions on hardiness, also do the buds blast and does the plant have good foliage? Your replies to these questions will be greatly appreciated and may be sent to me at the Heritage Plantation, Box 566, Sandwich, Mass. 02563.
As this list grows so does the collection at Heritage Plantation where the number of Dexter cultivars now stands at 120. This collection consists of several original Dexter plants 40 to 50 years old, young plants obtained during the past three years, as well as cuttings received last fall and now being rooted. As soon as these young plants reach a reasonable size they will be planted in the Display Garden and elsewhere throughout our 76 acres.
Without the continued help of John C. Wister, former Director of the Arthur Hoyt Scott Horticultural Foundation, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.; The John J. Tyler Arboretum, Lima, Pa. and Roger Coggeshall, president, Cherry Hill Nurseries, West Newbury, Mass., this program would not have advanced so rapidly during these past three years.
List of Abbreviations and Symbols American Rhododendron Hardiness Ratings H-1 - 15 degrees to -30 degrees H-2 - 5 degrees to -15 degrees H-3 - 0 degrees to -5 degrees Column A - Variety or Cultivar Name Column B - Code number or other original identity Column C - Named by or at Column D - Flower color Column E - Hardiness rating Column F - Introduced by Additional information on the Dexter
Rhododendrons has appeared in recent issues
of the Quarterly Bulletin:Vol. 25, No. 1, January 1971, Pg. 27 Vol. 25, No. 2, April 1971, Pg. 109 Vol. 25, No. 3, July 1971, Pg. 169 Vol. 25, No. 3, July 1971, Pg. 175 Vol. 26, No. 2, April 1972 List of all Named Dexter Clones (As compiled by John Wister and Heman Howard, 1972.)
A B C D E F Acclaim (Sw 12507-12) Sw-Ty R Accomac (Sw 12507-1) Sw R H-2 Indian Run Accomplishment (Sw 12507-14) Sw-Ty R Adelphia (Sw 12507-9) Sw-Ty R Agatha (Sw 12507-17) Sw-Ty R Alice Poore (Longwood 62612) (Probably selection of BPPM) Alice in Wonderland (Ross AAA) Ty Pale Amethyst (H. Phipps #8) Vossberg Purple H-2 Westbury Andorra Arrington Andorra Apple Blossom (Everitt #3) Everitt P H-2 Eastover Arlequin (Sw 12507-5) Sw R (Called Harlequin by Vossberg) Aronimink (Sw 12507-3) Sw R H-2 Westbury Ashes of Roses (Sel. at Winterthur) H. F. DuPont Avondale (Sw 12507-6) Sw R H-2 Wells Ben Mosely (B.P.P. Mosely #51-6 & 52-8) B. Mosely P H-2 Westbury Barnstable (Brown #1) Sw-HP Salmon H-2 Bass River (Brown #14) Sw-HP P H-2 Betty Arrington (Had been sent out originally Arrington P H-2 Tranquility and mistakenly as C.O.D. ) Betty Hume (NY #11, NYBG #165) Amateis P H-2 Baldsiefen Black Cherry (Dexter #105) Knippenberg H-2 Knippenberg Brewster (Brown #6) Sw-HP Lav. H-2 Brown Eyes (Bosley #1046A or #1052A) Bosley P H-2 Bosley Bryantville (Brown #7) Sw-HP P H-2 Chalfont (Sw 60 R 6) Sw P Champagne (NY #2, NYBG #A) Vossberg Yellow H-2 Westbury Chatham (Dexter #23) Sw-HP P H-2 Cherry Red (Sel. #I1, Winterthur) H. F. duPont R Gladsgay? Clearbrook (Sw 60 R 16) Sw W Clover Coe (Planting Fields #99) Planting Fields C. O. D. (Everitt #4) Everitt Creamy Count Vitetti (Parker #1) Planting Fields Cutalosa (Sw 60 R 24) Sw W Delicate Splendor (Ross DD) Ty W Dexter's Appleblossom (DE #631) Cowles P H-1 Dexter Estate Dexter's Apricot (DE #225) Cowles Apricot H-3 Dexter Estate
A B C D E F Dexter's Brandy-Green (DE #491) Cowles Cream H-2 Dexter Estate Dexter's Brick Red (DE #427) Cowles R H-3 Dexter Estate Dexter's Cream (DE #437) Cowles Cream H-3 Dexter Estate Dexter's Crown Pink (DE #600) Cowles P H-2 Dexter Estate Dexter's Favorite (Dexter #123) Amateis ? P Gladsgay ? Dexter's Giant Red (DE #431) Cowles R H-2 Dexter Estate Dexter's Glow (DE #317) Cowles P H-2 Dexter Estate Dexter's Horizon (DE #480) Cowles P H-2 Dexter Estate Dexter's Orange (DE #296) Cowles Or. Red H-3 Dexter Estate Dexter's Orchid (Everitt #IA) Vossberg Lav. H-2 Westbury Dexter's Peppermint (DE #215) Cowles P H-2 Dexter Estate Dexter's Pink (Everitt #12) Vossberg P H-2 Westbury Dexter's Pink Glory (DE #219) Cowles P H-2 Dexter Estate Dexter's Purple (NY #16, NYBG #203) Vossberg Purple H-2 Westbury Dexter's Red (Morris #2) Vossberg R H-2 Westbury Dexter's Salmon (De #62) Cowles P H-3 Dexter Estate Dexter's Spice (De #968) Cowles W H-3 Dexter Estate Dexter's Springtime (DE #314) Cowles P H-3 Dexter Estate Dexter's Vanilla (DE #997) Cowles Cream H-3 Dexter Estate Dexter's Victoria (DE #441) Cowles Lav. H-1 Dexter Estate Dorothy Russell (Sel. by Schwoebel) Schwoebel R H-2 Schwoebel Eastham (Dexter #42) Sw-HP P H-2 Edgemont (Sw 60 R 4) Sw P Edwin Beinecke (Sel at Beinecke Est.) Young Elizabeth Poore B.P.P.M. #52-1) B.P P. Moseley Emissary (Ross EE) Ty P Everett Miller (U.S. Nat. Arb. #19364) Planting Fields Fairhaven (Dexter #44) Sw-HP H-2 Festive Feast (Ross FF) Ty P Flaming Snow (BPPM #53-16) Ty W Fordham (NY #13, NYBG #201) Vossberg P Westbury Forestdale (Dexter #128) Sw-HP R H-2 Gi-Gi (Ross GG) Burns R Glenda Farrell (Ross RR) Ty R Gloxineum (deWilde rec. fr. Dexter about 1940) deWilde P H-2 Rhodo-Lake Glenolden (Sw 60 R 9) Sw P Great Eastern (Dexter #109) Knippenberg P H-2 Knippenberg Halesite (Parker #4) Vossberg P Westbury Harwich (Dexter #108) Sw-HP P H-2
A B C D E F Hatchville (Dexter #121) Sw-HP H-2 Helen Everitt (Sel. Everitt) Everitt-Fuller W Westbury Henry Coe (Parker #2) Planting Fields Honeydew (Everitt #21) Vossberg Westbury Hunting Hill (Ross HH) Ty P Huntington (Parker #5) Vossberg P Westbury John Wister (Dexter #201) Mulligan P H-2 Wells Josephine Everitt (Everitt #5) Everitt P Eastover? Katherine Slater (F. Brown) F. Brown P H-1 Weston Kelley (Sw 12507-11) Herbert R Kingswood (Sw 60 R 26) Sw P Koster's Choice Everitt #6) Everitt P Lady Decora (Sw 12506-1) Sw P Lady of Belfield (Sw 12506-3) Sw P Lady of June (Sw 12506-5 (12) ) Sw P Lady of Vernon (Sw 12506-7) Sw W Lady of Wakefield (Sw 12506-9 (10) ) Sw P Lahaska (Sw 69 R 1) Sw P Lavender Princess (Bosley #1021) Bosley Bosley Louisa P. Delano (Everitt #?) Madison Hill (Sw 12500-2) Sw P Marshfield (Dexter #173) Sw-HP P H-2 May Moonlight (Sw 60 R 1) Sw Pale Megansett (Dexter #187) Sw-HP Mauve H-2 Merley Cream (Dexter #62) Mulligan or Wells H-2 Wells Moonlight Bay (Sw 60 R 3) Sw Apricot Mr. W. R. Coe (Parker #10) Planting Fields P H-2 Mrs. H. B. Gardner (Everitt #8) Dexter (Cannot be certain) Mrs. W. R. Coe (Parker #3) Coe, Plntg. Flds. P H-2 Westbury Newburyport Beauty (Fowle #18) Sw P H-2 Newburyport Belle (Fowle #19) Sw P H-2 Newburyport Charm (Fowle #20) Sw W H-2 Oh Joy (Ross 00) Sw Parker's Pink (Parker #1PP) Vossberg P H-2 Oliver of Eastover? Peg Coe (Parker #7) Planting Fields Peter Koster (See Koster's Choice) Pink Sparkler (Vermuelen) Vermuelen P Vermuelen Powder Puff (FMM #51-13) Knippenberg P Knippenberg Quiet Quality (Ross QQ) Sw Ramona (Named or Intro. in Cal.) R
A B C D E F Red House (Grown by Schwoebel) de Wilde R Rhodo-Lake Red Velvet (Sw 12507-2) Knippenberg R Knippenberg Red Yard (Grown by Schwoebel) deWilde R Rhodo-Lake Robert Coe (Parker No number) Planting Fields Sagamore Bayside (Dexter #16) Sw-HP P H-2 Sagamore Bridge (Dexter #180) Sw-HP P H-2 Scintillation (NY #1, NYBG #67) Vossberg P H-2 Westbury Shawme Lake (Dexter #213) Sw-HP P H-2 Sherryvore Monarch (Beinecke-Goury 59-49) Young P Skyglow (Dexter #9) Baldsiefen P H-2 Baldsiefen Tan (Sel. at Winterthur) H. F. duPont Teaticket (Dexter #218) Sw-HP Pale H-2 Tinicum (Sw 70 R 1) Sw Toastmaster (Sw 70 R 2) Sw Todmorden (Scott #1) Sw R H-2 Indian Run Tohicon (Sw 70 R 3) Sw Tom Everett (NY #4, NYBG #205) Politi P H-2 Wells True Treasure (Ross TT) Sw P Tulpehocken (Sw 70 R 4) Sw P Up Front (Ross UU) Sw Wareham (Willard #1) Sw P H-2 Warwick (Ross BB ?) Baldsiefen P H-1 Baldsiefen Wellfleet (Dexter #8) Sw-HP H-2 Westbury (H. Phipps #3) Vossberg P H-2 Westbury Weston (Sel. at Weston Nursery) Mezitt P H-1 Weston Whittenton (Willard #5) Sw Cream H-2 Wiano (Willard #7) Sw Lav. H-2 Willard (Willard #2) Sw P H-2 William Rogers Coe (Parker #18) Planting Fields Winneconnet (Willard #8) Sw Pale H-2 Winning Ways (Ross WW) Ty R Wissahickon (Morris #3) Morris Arb. R H-2 Wells Wyandanch Pink (Sel. at Wyandanch Ar.) Wyandanch P H-2 Wyandanch
Volume 27, Number 2
April 1973
