Sandra McDonald Azaleas
Sandra McDonald’s Biography Born in Kansas City, KS Sandra and Ken McDonald – Aug 2012 • BS – Univ of Mo. Kansas City 1959 • MS Horticulture, Univ of Conn • 1972 PhD Plant Genetics, Univ of Conn • 1975 Moved to Virginia in 1974 after • marrying Ken McDonald Has been hybridizing since the • mid 70’s Worked at Ken’s business Le-Mac • Nurseries a wholesale nursery specializing in azaleas and rhododendron (later renamed Le- • Photo by Rick Bauer Mac Azaleas). Did hybridizing, worked with • chemicals and computer work.
Le-Mac Nursery Retail and wholesale nursery • founded by Ken McDonald and Jacques LeGendre in 1927 Located in Elizabeth City • County, VA (now Hampton, VA) Picked for mild climate and • access for shipping In early days, they purchased • florist type azaleas from Alphonse Pericat
Le-Mac Nursery – cont’d • Most of these Pericat azaleas of Formosa- Kurume hybrids could overwinter in Zone 8 Aerial View of Le-Mac ca. 1930 Photographer unknown Le-Mac Beds ca. 1967 Photographer unknown
Le-Mac Nursery – cont’d • Most of these Pericat azaleas of Formosa- Kurume hybrids could overwinter in Zone 8 • Introduced a number of hybrids and propagated and grew many Pericat varieties Le-Mac Beds ca. 1967 Photographer unknown
Le-Mac Nursery – cont’d • Most of these Pericat azaleas of Formosa- Kurume hybrids could overwinter in Zone 8 • Introduced a number of hybrids and propagated and grew many Pericat varieties • Retail nursery closed during WWII. Wholesale Le-Mac Cold Frames ca. 1967 Photographer unknown portion remained open
Le-Mac Nursery – cont’d • Most of these Pericat azaleas of Formosa- Kurume hybrids could overwinter in Zone 8 • Introduced a number of hybrids and propagated and grew many Pericat varieties • Retail nursery closed during WWII. Wholesale Le-Mac Beds ca. 2001 portion remained open Photographer unknown • Retail reopened after war as McDonalds Nursery
Hybridization Goals • Improve the hardiness of the relatively tender florist variety azaleas Double Red
Hybridization Goals • Improve the hardiness of the relatively tender florist variety azaleas • Produce lower growing azaleas for compact yards Pure Perfection
Hybridization Goals • Improve the hardiness of the relatively tender florist variety azaleas • Produce lower growing azaleas for compact yards • Fill gaps in color form and color within existing azalea varieties Sandra’s Fancy
Hybridization Goals • Improve the hardiness of the relatively tender florist variety azaleas • Produce lower growing azaleas for compact yards • Fill gaps in color form and color within existing azalea varieties • Expand the bloom season Sweet Freckles
Hybridization Goals • Improve the hardiness of the relatively tender florist variety azaleas • Produce lower growing azaleas for compact yards • Fill gaps in color form and color within existing azalea varieties Williamsburg Rose Bouquet • Expand the bloom season • Watch for new and different characteristics
Azalea Varieties
Cape Cod
Cape Cod Parentage Gumpo White Wakaebisu • Photo by Bob Stelloh • Photo by Brent Wilson
Cape Cod Description Color – White with pale green • fringe near base Size – 1 1/2 “ x 2 3/8” • Number of Lobes - 5 • Shape – broad funnel • Form – hose in hose • Margins - Frilly • Time of bloom – late May • Foliage – semi-glossy • Plant growth habit - 3’ 8” x 6’ in • 35 years Shrub habit - intermediate • Hardiness – 10 ° F •
Chessie’s Lavender Gem A77-20-1
Chessie’s Lavender Gem Parentage Elsie Lee Elsie Lee • Photo by Bob Stelloh Photo by Bob Stelloh •
Chessie’s Lavender Gem Description Color – Light purple with some • strong dorsal reddish purple Size – 1.75” x 2” • Number per head – 3 per truss • Number of Lobes - variable • Shape – openly funnel shaped • Form – Hose in Hose semi- • double Margins - wavy edged • Time of bloom – Early • Foliage – semi-glossy • Plant growth habit - 5’ tall by 6’ • wide in 22 years Shrub habit - open • Hardiness – at least 0 ° F •
Other Varieties from Cross Chessie’s Pink Chessie’s Purple A77-20-2 A77-20-3 • Not Found
Dream Sherbet
Dream Sherbet Parentage Venus (Henson) Girard’s Hot Shot •Photographer unknown
Dream Sherbet Description Color – Strong Pink with a white • dorsal blotch and white marking at tips of all lobes Size – 1.75” x 2.5” • Number per head – 2-4 • Number of Lobes - 5 wavy edged • lobes Shape – broadly funnel shaped • Form – single • Time of bloom – Late April • Foliage – elliptic, flat, yellow green • Plant growth habit - intermediate • Shrub habit - 1.7’ x 2.5’ in 7 years • Hardiness – at least 0° F •
Dreamsicle
Dreamsicle Parentage Venus (Henson’s) Girard’s Hot Shot
Dreamsicle Description Color – Strong pink w/white dorsal • blotch Size – 1.75” x 2.5” • Number per head – 2-4 • Photo by Hyatt Number of Lobes - 5 wavy edged • • Shape – broadly funnel • Form – single • Time of bloom – Late April • Foliage – elliptical semi-glossy • strong yellow green Plant growth habit - 1.7’ tall by 2.5’ • wide in 7 years Shrub habit - intermediate • Hardiness – 0 degrees F •
MiniCarnations
Mini Carnations Parentage Ripples Evening Glow Photo not available • Photo by Richard Clifton
Mini Carnations Description Color – deep purplish pink • Size – 8” long x 1.25” wide • Number per head – 2-3 • Shape – funnel shaped • Form – double • Time of bloom – Mid April • Foliage – semi glossy, moderate • olive green Plant growth habit - 3.3’ tall by 3’ • wide in 22 years Shrub habit - Intermediate • Hardiness – 0 degrees F •
Negligee A81-9-1
Negligee Parentage Maihime Pink Gumpo
Negligee Description Color – Pale purplish pink w/strips • of light purplish pink Size – 2.5”-2.75” x 1.5” • Number of Lobes - 5 wavy edged • Shape – widely funnel shaped • Form – single • Time of bloom – 3-4 th week of May • Foliage – elliptical, glossy yellow • green Plant growth habit - 1.3’ x 2’ in 12 • years from seed Shrub habit - dense • Hardiness – 5 ° F •
New Generation Red
New Generation Red Parentage Girard’s Hot Shot Hershey’s Red-tetra Photo of Hershey’s Red by • • Photo from Allseasonplants Dan Krabill
New Generation Red Description Color – Strong Red • Size – 1.5” x 2” • Number per head - 3 • Number of Lobes - 5+5 frilly edged • Shape – Openly funnel shaped • Form – Hose in Hose • Time of bloom – Mid April • Foliage – Semi-glossy, strong • yellow green Plant growth habit - 2.5’ x 2.5’ in • 22 years Shrub habit - dense • Hardiness – 0 ° F •
Pure Perfection
Pure Perfection Parentage White Gumpo Wakaebisu (Satsuki) • Photo by Brent Wilson Photo by Bob Stelloh •
Pure Perfection Description Color – White with light green throat • Size – 2.5” x 1 5/8 “ • Number of Lobes - 5+5 (hose-in-hose) • wavy to frilled lobes Shape – Widely funnel shaped • Form – hose in hose • Time of bloom – Late May/Early June • Foliage – narrowly obovate (egg • shaped with narrow end attached to the stalk) to elliptical, glossy Spinach Green Plant growth habit - 20” x 36” in 6 yrs • Photo by Dan Krabill Shrub habit - Broad, branching well • • with decumbent branches Hardiness – 5 ° F •
Rosy Frills
Rosy Frills Parentage Girard’s Hot Shot Hershey’s Red-tetra • Photo of Hershey’s Red by Dan Krabill
Rosy Frills Description Color – vivid purplish red • Size – 1.75” x 2” • Number per head - 3 • Number of Lobes - 5+5 frilly edged • lobes Shape – openly funneled shape • Form – hose-in-hose • Time of bloom – Mid April • Foliage – elliptic, glossy, moderate • olive green Plant growth habit - intermediate • Shrub habit - 4’ tall x 4’ wide in 22 • years (with pruning) Hardiness – 0 ° F •
Sandra’s Green Ice A81-14
Sandra’s Green Ice Parentage Elsie Lee Anna Kehr • Photo by Joe Coleman • Photo by Bob Stelloh
Sandra’s Green Ice Description Color – Greenish center ages to • white toward the margins Size – 1” x 2” • Number per head - 2 • Number of Lobes - 5 frilly edged • lobes Shape – broadly funnel shaped • Form – hose-in-hose • Margins - upcurved • Time of bloom – Late April • Foliage – elliptic, dull, moderate • yellow green Plant growth habit - upright • Shrub habit - 4.5’ x 4’ in 16 years Photo by Don Hyatt • Hardiness – at least 3 ° F •
Photo David Taylor
Photo David Taylor
Sandra’s Misty Morn
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