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Rhododendrons

With more than 4,000 accessions representing over 1,300 taxa, the Rhododendron collection at Jenkins (including azaleas) is incredibly diverse. This collection includes plants from across the globe, representing four of the five major divisions within the genus – lepidote rhododendrons (those with scaly leaves), elepidote rhododendrons (those with non-scaly leaves), evergreen azaleas (all from Asia), and deciduous azaleas (mainly eastern North American natives). The collection also includes all species of eastern North American native azaleas, including pinxterbloom, flame, and sweet azaleas (Rhododendron periclymenoides, Rhododendron calendulaceum, and Rhododendron arborescens respectively). The blooming season is long, starting as early as February with purple (Rhododendron dauricum) and pink Korean rhododendron (Rhododendron mucronulatum) and ending in December with the Encore© azaleas.

Currently, Jenkins is working on preservation and collections expansion to include some of the best new cultivars from east coast hybridizers as well as known-provenance deciduous native species.

Light pink rhododendron bloom.
Pink bloom of a rhododendron with frilly edges.
White star-like flowers of a native azalea.
Yellow and orange blooms of a native azalea.
Light pink azalea blooms with yellow streak.
Soft pink flowers of a large leaf rhododendron.
Vibrant orange blooms of a native azalea.
Deep fuchsia blooms of a hybrid evergreen azalea.
Soft yellow blooms of a hybrid azalea.
Light pink blooms of a pinxterbloom azalea.
Purple blooms of an azalea.
Red azalea bloom with white center.