QBARS - v29n1 R. 'Pink Snowflake'

R. 'Pink Snowflake'
John P. Evans, MD, Oakland, California

This elegant medium-sized dwarf rhododendron hybrid of R. racemosum x R. moupinense is an A.R.S. Registered Plant hybridized and grown by Robert Scott of the California Chapter. The R. racemosum used was a locally selected form known as 'Pink Mist', while the R. moupinense was a selected form of deep pink with a heavily spotted throat. It is a compact mounded shrub with bronzy new growth and excellent green foliage throughout the year. It buds up readily as a young plant, with terminal buds of a contrasting red color held in clusters of three to five. The truss is made up of sparkling white flowers heavily flushed and spotted pink. It is a fine garden plant blooming in late February here and should be hardy enough to grow equally well in conditions similar to the Pacific Northwest.