QBARS - v15n1 New Azaleas Released by the U. S. D. A.

New Azaleas Released by U. S. D. A.
M. W. Parker

The Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, hereby releases the following new azaleas. These varieties were developed in the azalea breeding program being carried on at Beltsville, Maryland.

'FLASH' (Tested as No. 429). 'Flash Mobile' x 'Flame Sport'. The variety shows dense growth and develops into a plant about 1½ times as wide as tall. The foliage is semi-persistent and glossy dark green. The single flowers are from 1 to 1½ inches across and a deep brick red. The plant is very floriferous with from 3 to 9 flowers per cluster.

'GREEN EYES' (Tested as No. 784). 'Green Eyes' originated from crossing two unnamed seedlings of Kurume, 'Maxwellii' and indica parentage. The variety shows compact growth in a plant about 2 times as wide as high. The foliage is dark green and persistent. The hose and hose flowers are from 3 to 4 inches across and white, with a marked green blotch on the standard. The numerous flowers are borne in clusters of three.

'SHOCKING PINK' (Tested as No. 833). 'Shocking Pink' originated from crossing two unnamed seedlings of 'Maxwellii', indica , Kurume and kaempferi parentage. The variety is of medium growth and semi-persistent foliage. The single flowers are a bright clear pink and about 3 inches across. They are very numerous and in clusters of 2 to 5 flowers.

'ALPINE' (Tested as No. 836). 'Alpine' originated from self-pollination of an unnamed seedling of indica x Kaempferi hybrid parentage. The variety is of compact growth and about as wide as high. The foliage is a glossy dark green and persistent. The hose and hose flowers are white, about 2½ inches across, and unusually deep. The variety is very floriferous with flowers in clusters of 2 or 3.

'CASABLANCA' (Tested as No. 228). 'Casablanca' originated from a cross between indica alba x 'Snow'. The plants are well branched and somewhat wider than high with persistent leaves. The single white flowers are from 1½ to 2¼ inches across. They are very numerous and borne in clusters of from 3 to 7. Shows promise as a greenhouse forcing variety.

'NORTHLAND' (Tested as No. 133). 'Northland' originated from a cross between a kaempferi hybrid x 'Snow'. The plants produce rather dense growth about as wide as high with persistent foliage. The petals of the white flowers are crenate and with good substance, approximately 1¾ inches, abundant, and borne in clusters of 2.

'WHITECAP' (Tested as No. 221A). 'Whitecap' originated from a cross of indica alba x 'Snow'. The variety is moderately branched, about as broad as tall and has persistent leaves. The single white flowers are about 2½ inches across, very numerous, and in clusters of 2 or 3.

'FLIRTATION' (Tested as No. 88). 'Flirtation' originated from a cross of a 'Maxwellii' x 'Snow'. The variety is erect in growth with semi-persistent leaves. The hose and hose purple flowers are about 2½ inches broad, very numerous, and in clusters of 3 or 4.

'SANGUINAIRE' (Tested as No. 271). 'Sanguinaire' originated from a cross of 'Pride of Mobile' x 'Flame Sport'. The variety branches freely from the base with erect growth and persistent leaves. The numerous dark-red single flowers have darker spots in the throat, are about 1½ inches in diameter, and are borne in clusters of 2 or 3.

The following varieties are from the dwarf series of azaleas.

'LITTLE WHITE LIE' (Tested as No. 553). 'Little White Lie' originated from crosses of Kaempferi hybrid x 'Snow x 'Firefly'. This variety is very dwarf, moderately loose, and 1½ times as wide as high. The foliage is semi-persistent. The white hose and hose flowers are about 1 inch across, very profuse, and in clusters of 2 or 3.

'WHITE DOLL' (Tested as No. 502). 'White Doll' originated from crossing two unnamed seedlings of 'Maxwellii', Kurume and indica parentage. This variety is very dwarf and compact in growth, spreading to twice its height. Most of the summer foliage is dropped in the winter. The single white flowers are 1½ to 2-inches broad and of good substance. The bush is covered with the large flowers borne in clusters of 2 or 3.

'WHITE ELF' (Tested as No. 494). 'White Elf' originated from crossing two unnamed seedlings of 'Maxwellii', Kurume and indica parentage. This variety is very dwarf and very dense in growth and about 3 times as wide as high. Foliage is glossy, very dark green and persistent. The single white flowers are 1 to 1½ inches in diameter. Sometimes does not flower heavily as a young plant.

'PINKETTE' (Tested as No. 499). 'Pinkette' originated from crossing two unnamed seedlings of indica , Kurume and 'Maxwellii' parentage. This variety is very dwarf and compact in growth spreading to 1½ times its height. Summer foliage does not persist. The single flowers are a bright medium pink from 1 to 1½ inches across. The variety is very floriferous and the flowers are in clusters of from 3 to 9.

'LEPRECHAUN' (Tested as No. 504). 'Leprechaun' originated from crosses of two unnamed seedlings of Kaempferi, Kurume, and indica parentage. This variety is very dwarf and its compact habit of growth is about twice as wide as high. The semi-persistent foliage is a shiny dark green. The single lavender flowers are about 1 to 1½ inches wide. They are very numerous and in clusters of 2 to 7.

'ORCHID BELLE' (Tested as No. 551). 'Orchid Belle' originated from crosses of two unnamed seedlings of Kaempferi x 'Snow' x 'Firefly' parentage. This variety is very dwarf with open growth and is about as tall as wide. Summer foliage does not persist. The single orchid flowers are a slightly deeper color in the throat and about 1½ inches across. The flowers are very numerous and are usually found in clusters of 3.

'PEQUENO' (Tested as No. 552). 'Pequeno' originated from crosses of two unnamed seedlings of Kaempferi x 'Snow' x 'Firefly' parentage. This variety is very dwarf with compact growth about twice as wide as high. The leaves are semi-persistent. The very numerous hose and hose salmon flowers are about ¾ of an inch in diameter. They are borne in clusters of 3 and these are bunched into rhododendron-like heads.

'SALMON ELF' (Tested as No. 528). 'Salmon Elf' originated from crosses of two unnamed seedlings of Kaempferi x 'Snow' x 'Firefly' parentage. This variety is very dwarf with open growth about as wide as high. Summer leaves are not persistent. The hose and hose salmon-pink flowers have a dark splotch on the standard. They are very numerous, about l inches in diameter and borne in clusters of 2 or 3.

Dwarf Types

'ROSE ELF' (Tested as No. 485). 'Rose Elf' originated from crosses of ( indica alba x 'Snow') x 'Salmon Beauty'. This variety is very dwarf, about 1½ times as wide as high. The dense branches are covered with persistent dark-green foliage. Light-rose-colored, single flowers are about 1 inch across and borne profusely so that the entire plant is covered at full bloom.

'PINK ELF' (Tested as No. 601). 'Pink Elf' originated from crosses of ('Maxwellii' x 'Snow') x (Kaempferi x 'Snow'). This variety is very dwarf, about 3 times as wide as high. The compact branches are covered with persistent, dark-green foliage. The hose-in-hose, shell-pink flowers are borne in abundance.

'SNOWDROP' (Tested as No. 602). 'Snowdrop' originated from crosses of ('Maxwellii' x 'Snow') x (Kaempferi x 'Snow'). This variety is very dwarf about 3 times as wide as high. The very compact branches are covered with dark-green foliage. The hose-in-hose, clear-white flowers are very profuse and in clusters of 2 to 7.

'BOUTONNIERE' (Tested as No. 604). 'Boutonniere' originated from crosses of ('Maxwellii' x 'Snow') x (Kaempferi x 'Snow'). This variety is medium compact, being about one third wider than high. The branches are covered with semi-persistent, dark-green foliage. The hose-in-hose, white flowers with cream throats are about 1½ to 1¾ inches across and are borne profusely so that the entire plant is covered at full bloom.

'PING PONG' (Tested as No. 606). 'Ping Pong' originated from crosses of ('Maxwellii' x 'Snow') x (Kaempferi x 'Snow'). This variety is very dwarf, about 1½ times as wide as high. The very compact branches are covered with persistent, dark-green foliage. The hose-in-hose, white flowers with cream throats are about 1¼ to 1½ inches across and are borne profusely in clusters of from 3 to 5.

'LAVENDER ELF' (Tested as No. 608). 'Lavender Elf' originated from crosses of ('Maxwellii' x 'Snow') x (Kaempferi x 'Snow'). This dwarf variety is about as wide as high. The fairly loose branches are covered with semi-persistent foliage. The large, hose-in-hose lavender-colored flowers cover the plant when at full bloom.

'WHITE NYMPH' (Tested as No. 610). 'White Nymph' originated from crosses of ('Firefly' x 'Snow') x (Kaempferi x 'Snow'). This variety is very dwarf, about 1½ times as broad as high. The medium-compact branches are covered with persistent, light-green foliage. Single, white flowers are about 1 to 1½ inches across and are borne profusely so that the entire plant is covered at full bloom.

'SNOW FLURRY' (Tested as No. 611). 'Snow Flurry' originated from crosses of ('Firefly' x 'Snow') x (Kaempferi x 'Snow'). This variety is very dwarf about 2 times as wide as high. The compact branches are covered with persistent dark-green foliage. The hose-in-hose, clear-white flowers cover the entire plant at full bloom.

'DAINTY ROSE' (Tested as No. 682). 'Dainty Rose' originated from crosses, of (Kaempferi x 'Snow') x (Kaempferi x 'Snow'). This variety is extremely dwarf, about 1½ times as wide as high. The very compact branches are covered with persistent, dark-green foliage. Single, Bengal-rose-colored flowers are borne in clusters of 2 to 3 so that the plant is well covered at full bloom.

'PURPLE CUSHION' (Tested as No. 688). 'Purple Cushion' originated from crosses of (Kaempferi x 'Snow') x (Kaempferi x 'Snow'). This very dwarf variety is about 2 times as wide as high. The very dense branches are covered with persistent dark-green foliage. Single, cyclamen-purple flowers are about 1½ inches across and are borne profusely so that the plant is covered at full bloom.

'FLOWER' GIRL' (Tested as No. 689). 'Flower Girl' originated from crosses of (Kaempferi x 'Snow') x (Kaempferi x 'Snow'). This variety is very dwarf, about 2½ times as wide as high. The dense branches are covered with semi-persistent, medium-green leaves. Single dark-pink flowers are about 1¾ inches across and borne profusely so that the entire plant is covered at full bloom.