QBARS - v21n4 Rhododendrons and Azaleas Being Grown in the Middle West

Rhododendrons and Azaleas Being Grown in the Middle West
(Compiled by Midwest Chapter, American Rhododendron Society)
Received through the courtesy of Eldred Green

Explanation of the listings:

s = satisfactory. The plant has grown and bloomed satisfactorily.

p = plant is growing satisfactorily but has not yet bloomed.

u = unsatisfactory. The plant has not performed well.

? = unknown performance. Generally indicates a lack of time to get established.

Area designations:

Au = Aurora and its environs. Generally oak woods and heavy soils.

MC = Michigan City. Oak woods. Sandy soils of the Dunes region.

CSSW = Chicago suburbs southwest. Palos, Lemont, heavy soils.

CSW = Chicago suburbs west. Downers Grove, Lisle (Morton Arboretum). Heavy soils.

CNS = Chicago near south. Oak Lawn, Blue Island. Heavy soil.

Ur = Urbana-Champaign region. Heavy soil. Hot summers.

C = Chicago city proper.

Double entries indicate varying reports.

Initials in parentheses indicate:

Sham= Shammarello origination

Pride= Orlando Pride

Dex.= Dexter

Ex.= Exbury

Contributors include Donald Zaun, Dale McCurdy, Ray Michel, Eldred Green, Webster Crowley, Norman Conrad, Harold Barr, Allen Galloway, James Gardeman, Albert Rouffa, Richard Bara, Robert Wempe.

One of the most frequent questions from areas usually considered relatively unsuitable for rhododendrons, because of weather or soil conditions, is "What can be grown here?" The best answer is a list of what others are growing, or trying. This rather lengthy list from Chicago, even though sometimes based on rather short periods of time, should he helpful to all rhododendron buffs in that area. -Ed.