Proven Performers: District 8

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 8 are listed in this issue. An asterisk (*) indicates the name is not registered.

DISTRICT 8
Elepidotes (large-leaf)
'Ben Moseley'
'Cadis'
'Caroline' (Gable)
'Catawbiense Album'
'Chionoides'
'Catalode' (syn. 'County of York')
'David Gable'
'Dexter's Champagne'
'English Roseum'
'Gigi'
'Janet Blair'
'Judy Spillane'
'Ken Janeck'
'Mary Belle'
'Mist Maiden'
'Nestucca'
'Percy Wiseman'
'Roseum Elegans'
'Ruth Davis'
'Scintillation'
'Solidarity'
'Todmorden'
'Wheatley'
'Winterset White'
'Yaku Angel'
R. hyperythrum

Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Ginny Gee'
'Mary Fleming'
'Olga Mezitt'
'Windbeam'
PJM Group

Specific to District 8 Region
ARS District 8 Area is bounded on the south by the Pennsylvania-Maryland border and extends as far north as Bethlehem, Penn., as far west as Gettysburg, Penn., and as far east as Vineland, N. J.

SUSQUHANNA VALLEY CHAPTER
Elepidotes (large-leaf)
'Boule de Neige'
'Caroline'
'County of York' (syn. 'Catalode')
'Catawbiense Album'
'Katherine Dalton'
'Nova Zembla'
'President Lincoln'
'Roseum Elegans' 'Scintillation'
'Tom Everett'
'Vulcan's Flame'
'Wyandanch Pink'

Lepidotes (small-leaf)
'Brandywine'
'Chesapeake'
'Dora Amateis'
'Hudson Bay'
'Mary Fleming'
'Olga Mezitt'
PJM Group
'Rhein's Luna'
'Tiffany'
'Windbeam'

Deciduous Azaleas
'Gibraltar'
'Golden Lights'
'Homebush'
'Strawberry Ice'
R. cumberlandense

Evergreen Azaleas
'Dayspring'
'Delaware Valley White'
'Elsie Lee'
'Hardy Gardenia'*
'Herbert'
'Hershey's Red'*(syn. 'Hershey's Bright Red')
'Louise Gable'
'Madame Butterfly'
'Martha Hitchcock'
'Pleasant White'
'Rosebud' (Gable)
'Sandra Ann'
'Treasure'