Cold Hardiness of Various Provenances of Flame, Roseshell, and Swamp Azaleas
Pellett NE, Rowan N, Aleong J. 1991. Cold Hardiness of Various Provenances of Flame, Roseshell, and Swamp Azaleas. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 116(1):23-26
ABSTRACT: Florets of eight provenances representing three native North American azalea species [Rhododendron calendulaceum (Michx.) Torr., R. prinophyllum (Small) Millais, and R. viscosum (L.) Torr.] being grown in Burlington, Vt., were compared during three seasons for cold hardiness by laboratory freezing during cold acclimation. There was a large variability in the number of florets killed within an inflorescence in response to freezing temperatures. Cold hardiness of florets of the three species ranked, from most to least hardy, were R. viscosum, R. prinophyllum, and R. calendulaceum. Some differences were noted in cold hardiness of florets of provenances, but these were not necessarily related to latitude or elevation of origin. Cold hardiness of most provenances showed a significant linear relationship with the daily mean temperature of the 3 days preceding freezing tests. Ambient temperatures just before subfreezing test temperatures may affect winter injury more than provenance differences for these species.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Pellett, Norman; Rowan, Nancy; Aleong, John
- Units
- BLRI
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Azalea, BLRI, Blue Ridge Parkway, cold hardiness, flame azalea, GRSM-01518, SER, Southeast Region, swamp azalea, vascular plants