Proven Performers: District 3

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 they were to be cold and heat hardy 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 3 are listed in this issue.

DISTRICT 3

JUAN DE FUCA CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large-leaf)
'Anna Rose Whitney'
'Blue Ensign'
'Crest'
'Cynthia'
'El Camino'
'George's Delight'
'Hotei'
'Lem's Cameo'
'Loderi King George'
'Point Defiance'
'Red Walloper'*
'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague'
R. oreodoxa
R. arboreum
R. calophytum
R. degronianum ssp. yakushimanum 'Ken Janeck'
R. forrestii Repens Group
R. orbiculare
R. ponticum variegated
R. rex
R. souliei
R. thomsonii

Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Barto Alpine'
'Dora Amateis'
'Ginny Gee'
PJM Group
R dichroanthum ssp. scyphocalyx
R. augustinii
R. cinnabarinum
R. hanceanum Nanum Group
R. impeditum
R. moupinense
R. mucronulatum
R. racemosum

Deciduous Azaleas
'Homebush'
Exbury Azaleas
R. luteum
R. occidentale
R. schlippenbachii

Evergreen Azaleas
'Caroline Gable' and other Gable hybrids

Azaleodendrons
'Martha Isaacson'

Specific to the Juan de Fuca Chapter Region USDA Hardiness Zone 8b.
Average rainfall: 18-26 inches (45-65 cm).
Temperatures: winter 24-44°F; summer 60-70°F.
Northern exposure with prevailing westerly wind, a myriad of micro climates.
SITE SELECTION.
Well drained area. Shade for large-leaf varieties. More sun for smaller leaf varieties. Soil friable, well drained with organic materials. Do not plant deeper than original plant soil top. After first year, fertilize lightly if at all.

Nurseries
A & R Propagating, 3225 E. Masters Rd. Port Angeles, WA 98362
Wayne's Nursery, 3356 E. Highway 101, Port Angeles, WA 98362
Whitney Gardens & Nursery, 306264 Highway 101, Brinnon, WA 98320
Green Thumb Garden Center, 25781 Highway 101 E., Port Angeles, WA 98362
McComb Road Nursery, 751 McComb Rd., Sequim, WA 98382
Freshwater Bay Nursery, 276 Freshwater Park, Port Angeles, WA 98363

OLYMPIA CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large-leaf)
'Anah Kruschke'
'Blue Peter'
'Christmas Cheer'
'Elizabeth'
'Janet Blair'
'Lem's Cameo'
'Lem's Monarch'
'Loder's White'
'Marley Hedges'
'Nancy Evans'
'Purple Splendour'
'Taurus'
'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montegue'
R. degronianum ssp. yakushimanum 'Mist Maiden'

Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Blaney's Blue'*
'Blue Diamond'
'Crater Lake'
'Ginny Gee'
'Passionate Purple'*
'Patty Bee'
'Songbird'
PJM Group
R. augustinii
R. impeditum

Deciduous Azaleas
'Cannon's Double'
'Gibraltar'
'Klondyke'
'Mount Saint Helens'
'Oxydol'
'Snowbird'
'Strawberry Ice'
'White Lights'
R. luteum
R. occidentale

Evergreen Azaleas
'Elsie Lee'
'Everest'
'Hardy Gardenia'*
'Hino-crimson'
'Janet Rhea'
'Macranthum Pink'*
'Purple Splendor'
R. kiusianum 'Komo-kulshan' & white form

OLYMPIC PENINSULA
Elepidotes (large-leaf)
'Anna Rose Whitney'
'Fantastica'
'Golfer'
'Lem's Monarch'
'Mrs Furnivall'
'Noyo Chief'
'Point Defiance'
'Purple Splendour'
'Taurus'
'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague'

Lepidotes (small leaf)
'Dora Amateis'
'Ginny Gee'
'Patty Bee'
'Snow Lady'
'Too Bee'
'Wee Bee'
PJM Group
R. augustinii
R. dauricum
R. edgeworthii
R. impeditum

Deciduous Azaleas
'Homebush'
'Irene Koster'
'Orangeade'*
Exbury Group
Mollis Group
R. vaseyi
R. albrechtii
R. atlanticum
R. occidentale
R. schlippenbachii

Evergreen Azaleas
'Helen Close'
'Hino-crimson'
'Koromo-shikibu'
'Mariko'
'Pink Rosebud'*
R. kiusianum
R. kiusianum 'Komo-kulshan'
R. nakaharae 'Mount Seven Star'
'Linearifolium'

Specific to the Olympic Peninsula Chapter Region Geographic area: USDA Zone 8, marine temperate, mild winters, cool dry summers, coniferous forest, considerable clay. Rhododendrons will grow almost anywhere with adequate drainage and some organics. For best results add drainage, organic amendments, mulching and moderate fertilizer.

Nurseries
Henery's Garden Center, 406 Benedict St., Port Townsend, WA 98368
Olympic Greenhouse, 8012 Highway 20, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Gardens at Four Corners, 321 Four Corners Rd., Port Townsend, WA 98368
Whitney Gardens, PO Box F, Brinnon, WA 98320
Willowdell Mercantile, 939 Kearney St., Port Townsend, WA 98368

SHELTON CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large leaf)
'Cynthia'
'Hallelujah'
'Mrs Furnivall'
'President Roosevelt'
'Purple Splendour'
'Taurus'
'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague'
'Unique Marmalade'
R. bureavii
R. degronianum ssp. yakushimanum 'Ken Janeck'

Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'April Rose'
'Blue Diamond'
'Bob's Blue'
'Ginny Gee'
'PJM Victor'
'Snow Lady'
'Wee Bee'
R. augustinii
R. dauricum
R. davidsonianum

Deciduous Azaleas
'Buttons and Bows'
'Cecile'
'Cheerful Giant'
'Gibraltar'
'Klondyke'
'Strawberry Ice'
'Washington State Centennial'
'White Lights'
R. luteum
R. quinquefolium

Evergreen Azaleas
'Amoenum'
'Fascination'
'Girard's Hot Shot'
'Hardy Gardenia'*
'Hino-crimson'
'Johanna'
'Kazan'*
'Martha Hitchcock'
'Purple Splendor'
'Sherwood Orchid'* (syn. for 'Sherwoodii')

Specific to the Shelton Chapter Region

The Shelton Chapter serves primarily the southern and western portion of Puget Sound, and Hood Canal, mainly in Mason County, Washington. Elevations where rhododendrons are planted range from sea level to about 1,000 feet with most residential areas under 500 feet. Soils are mainly glacial deposits, often gravelly to rocky, but intermixed with sand, clay, and organic deposits. Soils are normally deficient in nitrogen, and the addition of N-P-K fertilizer is usually needed for good growth. Rainfall averages 50 to 80 inches annually, but watering rhododendrons and azaleas is normally required in summer on most sites. The USDA Hardiness Zone is generally Zone 8 (10 to 20°F minimum), but some areas are Zone 7 (0 to 10°F minimum). Winds are usually moderate. Snow cover is seldom more than a few inches, lasting only a few days or weeks, mainly in January or February.

TACOMA CHAPTER
Elepidotes
'Anna Rose Whitney'
'Black Magic'*
'Bruce Brechtbill'
'Cinnamon Bear'
'Crest'
'Daniela'
'Dreamland'
'Etta Burrows'
'Fastuosum Flore Pleno'
'Golden Gate'*
'Horizon Monarch'
'Hydon Dawn'
'Isabel Pierce'
'Ken Janeck'
'Lady de Rothschild'
'Lem's Cameo'
'Mardi Gras'
'Mrs Betty Robertson'
'Nancy Evans'
'Noyo Brave'
'Odee Wright'
'Point Defiance'
'Sir Charles Lemon'
'Teddy Bear'
'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague'
'Trilby'
'Unique'
'Vulcan'
R. macrophyllum
R. williamsianum

Lepidotes
'Cilpinense'
'Dora Amateis'
'Ginny Gee'
'Patty Bee'
'Princess Anne'
'Ramapo'
'Snow Bird'* (syn. for 'White Bird')
'Songbird'
PJM Group
R. augustinii

Deciduous Azaleas
Exbury Azaleas R. occidentale
'Washington State Centennial'
R. schlippenbachii

Evergreen Azaleas
'Caroline Gable'
'Delaware Valley White'
'Gibraltar'
'Hino-crimson'
'Hino-red'
'Raspberry Ruffles'*
'Snow Cloud'
Girard Azaleas

Specific to the Tacoma Chapter Region Our geographic area is comprised primarily of USDA Hardiness Zones 8 and 8b. A wide range of micro-climates is contained within these two zones. Basic cultural guidance would be the larger the leaves, the more canopy/shade; the smaller the leaves the more open/sunny locations. Planting should be shallow—no deeper than they were growing in the nursery. Size determines spacing. They grow both in width and height and the greatest dissatisfaction is that they grow too tall and crowd other plants out (including rhodies). Rhododendron fertilizers may be applied in February and/or October but is not generally required annually unless planting soil is very poor.

* Name is unregistered.