Proven Performers: District 4
The ARS Public Education Committee last year asked chapters to compile lists of the best performing rhododendrons in their areas. Not only were these to be plants with good form, foliage texture and flowers, but also they were to be cold and heat hardy for the area and resistant to pests and diseases. The integrity of the lists is based upon the fact that the plants have proven their ability to perform well in members' gardens. The response to the request was overwhelming with almost all chapters sending lists to the committee. As a result, the Society and its chapters are able to make these lists available to the public to guide them in selecting rhododendrons that do well in their local area.
The chapters were asked to list ten each of elepidotes, lepidotes, deciduous azaleas, evergreen azaleas and, where pertinent, vireyas. Some chapters followed this procedure, while others included more of one category than another. No matter how the lists were organized, the Society now has a "Proven Performer" list of rhododendrons that do well in specific regions, along with culture tips specific to the area.
The Journal began publishing the lists in the Fall 2000 issue, starting with District 1. The Proven Performers from District 4 are listed in this issue.
DISTRICT 4
EUGENE CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large-leaf)
'Anah Kruschke'
'Faggetter's Favourite'
'Grace Seabrook'
'Lem's Monarch'
'Loderi Venus'
'Mrs. Furnivall'
'Pawhuska'*
'Taurus'
'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague'
R. pseudochrysanthum
(Ben Nelson form)
R. yakushimanum
(all forms)
Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Blue Diamond'
'Crater Lake'
PJM Group
R. augustinii
(all forms)
R. concinnum
'Chief Paulina'
R. lutescens
R. racemosum
Evergreen Azaleas
'Everest'
'Sherwoodii'
'Kazan'
'Kinzan'*
R. kiusianum
(all forms)
Deciduous Azaleas
'Bright Forecast'
'George Reynolds'
'Gibraltar'
R. occidentale
R. schlippenbachii
Azaleodendrons
'Glory of Littleworth' (azaleadendron)
'Ria Hardijzer' (azaleadendron)
Specific to Eugene Chapter Region, USDA ZONES 6, 7, 8, 9
In the Willamette Valley it may be Zones 7-9 for several years, but every 15-20 years a Siberian Express delivers a Zone 4 winter. Plants can be confused by warm rainy weather followed by freezing temperatures in the winter, or in the summer by extended drought.
In the Southern Willamette Valley from Corvallis south to Roseburg and Azalea, the clay soil needs additives; drainage is often a problem. Snow is rare.
The mid McKenzie River Valley to 30 miles east of Eugene has one month shorter growing season than Willamette Valley. Here late spring frosts can wreak havoc on early blooms. There is more rain and less sun in the spring than in the Willamette Valley, but in the fall when the Willamette Valley is buried in dense fog, the mid McKenzie Valley is bathed in sunshine. Surprisingly, in the winter, Eugene temperatures sometimes dip colder. Sandy river loam soil provides excellent drainage.
In the upper McKenzie River Valley, heavy wet snow may cause breakage every few years, but rhododendrons grow very well.
Nurseries
Gossler Farms Nursery, 1200 Weaver Rd., Springfield, OR 97478
Greers Nursery, 1280 Goodpasture Island Rd., Eugene, OR 97401
Grays Garden Centers, 737 W. 6th, Eugene, OR 97402
Johnson Bros. Greenhouses, 91444 Coburg Rd., Coburg, OR 97408
Decker's Nursery, 90808 B, Alvadore, OR 97409
Heatheroak Rhododendrons, 3050 Heather Oak Drive, Junction City, OR 97448
Duckworth Nursery, 84846 S. Willamette, Eugene, OR97405
Robert's Landscape & Nursery, 93416 River Rd., Junction City, OR 97448
Rogers Gardens, 1792 N. 42nd, Springfield, OR 97477
Kelleygreen Rhododendron Nursery, 6924 State Hwy. 38, Drain, OR 97435
Sander's Nursery, 350 Orchard Land, Roseburg, OR 97470
Starwood Nursery, Inc., 89894 Coburg Rd., Eugene, OR 97408
Tri Willow Nursery, 1566 Main St., Springfield, OR 97477
PORTLAND CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large-leaf)
'Blue Peter'
'Cynthia'
'Lem's Cameo'
'Mardi Gras'
'Mrs Furnivall'
'Odee Wright'
'Taurus'
'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague'
'Unique'
The Loderi series
Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Blaney's Blue'*
'Dora Amateis'
'Ginny Gee'
'Goldstrike'
'Honsu's Baby'
'Night Editor'
'Patty Bee'
R. augustinii
R. lutescens
R. rubiginosum
Deciduous Azaleas
'Arneson Gem'
'Corneille'
'Fluffy'
'Gibraltar'
'Homebush'
'Mount Saint Helens'
'Red Sunset'
'Snowbird'
R. occidentale
R. schlippenbachii
Evergreen Azaleas
'Girard's Hot Shot'
'Greenwood Orchid'
'Hino-crimson'
'Hinodegiri'
'Ivan Anderson'
'Mount Seven Star'
'Purple Splendor'
'Rosebud'
R. kiusianum
SIUSLAW CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large-leaf)
'Anah Kruschke'
'Bruce Brechtbill'
'Cynthia'
'Mrs. G.W. Leak'
'Pink Walloper'
'Scintillation'
'Taurus'
'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague'
'Unique'
'Van Nes Sensation'
Lepidotes (small leaf)
'Blue Diamond'
'Cilpinense'
'Cream Crest'
'Dora Amateis'
'Ginny Gee'
'Pink Snowflakes'
PJM Group
R. augustinii
R. davidsonianum
R. lutescens
Deciduous Azaleas
'Arneson Gem'
'Cheerful Giant'
'Gibraltar'
'Jane Abbott'
'King's Red'
'Klondyke'
'Mount Rainier'
'Strawberry Ice'
'Totally Awesome'
'Washington State Centennial'
Evergreen Azaleas
'Ben Morrison'
'Helen Close'
'Hexe'
'Hino-crimson'
'Orange Sherbet'
'Purple Splendor'
'Silver Sword'
'Stewartstonian'
Twenty Grand'
SOUTHWEST OREGON CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large-leaf)
"Yak" hybrids
'Horizon Monarch'
'Janet Blair'
'Jingle Bells'
'Kimberly'
'Nancy Evans'
'Paprika Spiced'
'The Hon. Jean Marie de Montague'
'Unique'
Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Alison Johnstone'
'Chikor'
'Egret'
'Ginny Gee'
'Princess Anne'
'Shamrock'
'Wren'
'Yaku Fairy'
R. impeditum
Deciduous Azaleas
'Arneson Gem'
'Canby'
'Gibraltar'
'Jack A. Sand'
'Mount Rainier'
'My Dream'*
'Nifty Fifty'
'Red Sunset'
'Rose Ruffles'
Evergreen Azaleas
'Anna Kehr'
'Cameo'
'Kirin'
'Daphne'
'Everest'
'Glacier'
'Lorna'
'Purple Splendor'
'Super Two'*
WILLAMETTE CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large-leaf)
'Anah Kruschke'
'Colonel Coen'
'Gomer Waterer'
'Halfdan Lem'
'Lodestar'
'Mardi Gras'
'Scintillation'
'Taurus'
'The Hon. Jean Marie de Montague'
'Unique'
Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Weston's Aglo'
'Blue Diamond'
'Dora Amateis'
'Ginny Gee'
'Honsu's Baby'
'Oceanlake'
'Purple Gem'
'Ramapo'
'Songbird'
PJM Group
Deciduous Azaleas
'Arneson Gem'
'Chetco'
'Gibraltar'
'John Eichelser'*
'Matthews Memory'*
'Mount Rainier'
'Mount Saint Helen'
'Nifty Fifty'
'Wallowa Red'
R. occidentale
Evergreen Azaleas
'Hino-crimson'
'Everest'
'Frosted Orange'*
'Girard's Rose'
'Macranthum'
'Purple Splendor'
'Pink Rosebud'*
'Sherwoodii'
'Girard's Fuchsia'
'Girard's Tiara'*
Specific to Willamette Chapter Area, USDA Zone 8a to 7b.
The elepidotes listed grow well here at near sea level and up to 1800 feet elevation in the Cascade foothills. Soils range from river bottom soil to clay to wonderful, dark loam. Watering needs vary. With clay, water every three days during the summer.
* Name is not registered.