Vireya Rhodedendrons

St. Cecilia (R. konori var. phaeopeplum X R.leucogigas). Hybridized by Peter Sullivan, large-fragrant-about 7" across the face. Thick stemmed, large-long firm leaves, upright and fairly compact because slower growing than others. Usually a good flush during winter to spring. (In Hawaii we get at least 2 flushes a year). Likes more shade than direct sun.

Nancy Miller Adler ('Pink Delight' X R. jasminiflorum). Smaller white flowers with touch of pink in center, probably caused by its red stamens. Lightly fragrant. Smaller leaves, naturally bushy. Very compact especially with pruning. This one has been around a while and can handle most conditions including full sun. Tends to bloom most of the year for us. A real good-doer.

Mitch lost his tag on this one ... so it is referred to as "jasminiflorum 'cream' hybrid". The jasminiflorum is evident in the flower. Very fragrant, likes shade, blooms several times for us. (Note from Davis Dalbok: Mitch Mitchell is a local vireya hybridizer who lives in Volcano. He and his wife have an amazing Vireya garden that should one day be adopted by the Garden Conservancy.)

Exotica ('Shantung Rose' X 'Chanel') Hybridizer is Richard Currie of NZ. Large flowers, on a tall open growing shrub with large leaves. Turning out to be a good repeat bloomer.

Could be Marshall Pierce Madison or Cair Paravel. Both are good bloomers, vigorous growers. MPM has up to 22 flowers per truss: a bright pink, upright grower, large leaves, and lightly fragrant. Cair Paravel also has large leaves, more compact (lower) growing than MPM, and flowers can go from a soft pink-coral to a light red. The MPM is true to color whereas the CP can be more variable.

Definitely a new one. Looks like M52 ('Aleksandr X Hi'iaka), one of Mitch Mitchell's (Volcano, Hawaii) crosses. This whole group of seedlings has merit. We still have to decide on the ones to propagate, as not all the group has bloomed for us yet. The color is wonderful, almost like a fuschia red, and there is a glow in the center of a deep almost golden red/orange. Upright grower, large leaves & flowers, turning out to be another good repeat bloomer (3 times a year at least). This one is a good indication of things to come.

Taking a stab at this one being the bud of 'Cyril' (R. leucogigas X R. konori x R. laetum). Large trusses, fragrant, with large leaves. An upright grower that tends to want to go out. It will start to lay a branch out and new breaks form on it. Cyril is a local favorite. it blooms a couple times a year. Thick stemmed but also a bushy grower. Can bloom different color depending on the season. Tends to be cream in the summer and gets a touch of pink in our winter.

Recently registered as 'Bill Moynier', its hybridizer. This one is another 'good doer' ... meaning it is easy to root, blooms early (young), and repeat blooms several times a year. Smaller flowers with dome shaped trusses. Very floriferous. Compact grower, good branching.

May be 'Candlelight', 'Blondie' or Superbum X goodenoughii. If from our garden I would guess it's the superbum X goodenoughii. If yes, it is one that handles most environments including full sun (here). Repeat bloomer. Upright open habit and lightly fragrant.

I suspect if this came from our garden that it was one of the compact new hybrids. (MLSAX F2 selfed). If it is, it has very compact, small leaves and bright yellow flowers. Good container plant and bloomer.

Looks like another new seedling, (Gardenia Odyssey X Brilliantine). It is one of Graham Snell's (of Australia) crosses. Graham left seeds of about 20 different crosses. Many have potential and we are watching. This one is so deep in color, tall, open grower, and turning out to be a good repeat bloomer.

There are two Inferno's. This one is R. javanicum ssp. brookeanum X unknown. A compact growing, good blooming plant. Can be difficult when young but once up to size for the garden, does wonderful. The name is appropriate as this one glows when the sun hits the back of the flowers.

Could be one of two: 'Mt. Pire' or 'Java Light'. It can be difficult to tell the two apart. Same cross: R. laetum X R. javanicum. Both are excellent bloomers, tall, open growing, and can handle most conditions, including full sun. In our garden we have 'Mt. Pire' at the top of the driveway.

Aloha (R. javanicum X R. sessilifolium). Hybridizer is Sylvia Saperstein of Australia. This one is fairly new for us. On the bench only — not in the garden — so far, it seems to be an easy grower, young bloomer and good repeat bloomer. May be a compact growing shrub — bushy.