Potomac Valley Chapter
of the
American Rhododendron Society
Recommended Rhododendrons

The Potomac Valley Chapter has been trying to put together a list of rhododendrons that grow well here in the Washington D.C. area. We have a unique climate where summers can be hot, winters can be cold, and the transition months can see widely varying temperatures. There are many rhododendrons that do not grow well here but there are others that do perform extremely well. Pictured to the left is Rhododendron 'Caroline' growing in Chapter President Don Hyatt's garden where it towers above some of his azaleas.

Below is a list of some of our better doers along with pictures of representative varieties in bloom. The names marked in bold are among the highest rated selections within our chapter. Starting with 2002, the American Rhododendron Society initiated a award program by geographical area. The plants that have received the distinguished Rhododendron of the Year (ROY) awards for our Middle Atlantic Region are indicated in the variety listing.

Large Leaf (Elepidote) Rhododendrons

Red, Rose, or Bicolor Atroflo (#2) Consolini's Windmill GiGi - 2004 Rhododendron of the Year Fantastica Shazaam Taurus Todmorden Tripoli Vulcan Vulcan's Flame Pink Anna Rose Whitney Apritan Betty Hume Cadis Caroline David Gable Dexter's Brown Eyes Dr. Rock Janet Blair - 2002 Rhododendron of the Year *makinoi* (species) *metternichii* (species) Mrs. W. R. Coe Mt. Siga Parker's Pink Scintillation Solidarity - 2003 Rhododendron of the Year Tom Everett Warwick Wheatley Wyandanch Pink Yaku Queen White, Blush, or White with Flare Calsap - 2005 Rhododendron of the Year Cape White County of York Disca Dexter's Spice Hardy Loderi *hyperythrum* (species) Ken Janek Mist Maiden Tiana *yakushimanum* (species) Lavender to Purple A. Bedford Ben Moseley Blue Ensign Great Smokey Roseum Elegans Cream, Yellow, Orange or Apricot Bellringer Capistrano Dexter's Champagne Golden Star Mary Belle Plants to Avoid The following rhododendrons have not proven satisfacory in our area. Some may have even received awards on the West Coast but people in the Middle Atlantic Region have found them very difficult to grow either due to heat or cold intolerance, or else they have a very poor plant habit under our typical growing conditions. Baden Baden Bow Bells Butterfly Crest Evening Glow Hotei Jean Marie de Montague Lem's Cameo Loder's White Mrs. Furnival Nancy Evans Odee Wright Pink Pearl Purple Splendor Sappho Scarlet Wonder Unique williamsianum Wissahickon	'Taurus'	'Consolini's Windmill'
	'Gigi' 2004 ROY Award	'Fantastica'
	'Wheatley'	'Parker's Pink'
	'Apritan'	'Mt. Siga'
	'Cadis'	'Caroline'
	R. metternichii (species)	'Janet Blair' 2002 ROY Award
	'Solidarity' 2003 ROY Award	'Scintillation'
	'County of York'	'Disca'
	'Cape White'	'Ken Janek' (R. yakushimanum)
	'A. Bedford'	'Bellringer'
	'Capistrano'	'Mary Belle'

Potomac Valley Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society Recommended Rhododendrons

Large Leaf (Elepidote) Rhododendrons

Plants to Avoid

Potomac Valley Chapter
of the
American Rhododendron Society
Recommended Rhododendrons