Proven Performers: District 7

The ARS Public Education Committee in 2000 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 and, in some cases, sources for the plants.

The Journal began publishing the lists in the fall 2000 issue, starting with District 1. The Proven Performers from District 7 are listed in this issue.

An asterisk (*) indicates the name is not registered.

NEW YORK CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large leaf)
'Consolini's Windmill'
'Gigi'
'Gordon Jones'
'Janet Blair'
'Scintillation'
'Taurus'
'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague'
'Tiana'
R. degronianum ssp. yakushimanum
R. degronianum ssp. yakushimanum 'Ken Janeck'

Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Weston's Aglo'
'Dora Amateis'
'Ginny Gee'
'Mary Fleming'
'Patty Bee'
'Princess Anne'
PJM Group
R. keiskei
R. minus Carolinianum Group
R. mucronulatum 'Cornell Pink'

'Deciduous Azaleas
'Weston's Lemon Drop'
'My Mary'
'Marydel'
R. atlanticum
R. calendulaceum
R. prunifolium
R. schlippenbachii
R. vaseyi
R. viscosum

Evergreen Azaleas
'Conversation Piece'
'Kirin'
'Delaware Valley White'
'Geisha' (Glenn Dale)
'Glacier'
'Hardy Gardenia'*
'Madame Butterfly'
'Nancy of Robinhill'
'Pink Pearl' (Kaempferi)
'Sir Robert'

Long Island/New York is in USDA Zone 6 with the climate moderated by the surrounding water. Soil varies from north to south, from rocky, clay loam to sand.

TAPPAN ZEE CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large leaf)
'Ben Moseley'
'Caroline'
'Catawbiense Album'
'Gigi'
'Janet Blair'
'Ken Janeck'
'Parker's Pink'
'Scintillation'
R. degronianum ssp. yakushimanum
R. fortunei

Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Weston's Aglo'
'Dora Amateis'
'Faisa'
'Ginny Gee'
'Mary Fleming'
'Windbeam'
'Wyanokie'
PJM group
R mucronulatum
R. keiskei

Evergreen Azaleas
'Conversation Piece'
'Fairfield'*
'Girard's Fuchsia'
'Hardy Gardenia'*
'Lady Louise'
'Martha Hitchcock'
'Laura Moreland'
'Nancy of Robinhill'
'Sir Robert'
'Stewartstonian'

Deciduous Azaleas
'Cecile'
'Homebush'
'Royal Lodge'
R. calendulaceum
R. prunifolium
R. schlippenbachii
R. vaseyi
R. viscosum

USDA Zones 5 and 6. Rainfall is about 40 inches per year. The soils vary from rocky shale to acidy loam.

PRINCETON CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large leaf)
'Ben Moseley'
'Caroline'
'Catawbiense Album'
'Gigi'
'Janet Blair'
'Parker's Pink'
'Ponticum Roseum' (also seen as 'Maximum Roseum')
'Rona Pink'
'Roseum Elegans'
'Scintillation'
'Solidarity'
R. maximum

Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Dora Amateis'
'Ginny Gee'
'Glenwood Arctic Dawn'
'Joseph Dunn'
'Macopin'
'Mary Fleming'
'Olga Mezitt'
PJM Group
'Southland'
'Weston's Aglo'
'Weston's Pink Diamond'
'Wyanokie'
R. keiskei
R. mucronulatum

Deciduous Azaleas
'Alhambra'
'Brazil'
'Cecile'
'Daviesii'
'Gibraltar'
'Klondyke'
'Narcissiflorum'
'Royal Lodge'
R. austrinum
R. calendulaceum
R. periclymenoides
R. schlippenbachii
R. viscosum

Evergreen Azaleas
'Anna Kehr'
'Garden State Glow'
'Geisha'
'Hardy Gardenia'*
'Helen Curtis'
'Linda Stuart'
'Lorna'

USDA Hardiness Zone 6, with a narrow band of Zone 7 along the shore.