<i>Rhododendron </i>plant named ‘NCRX11’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘NCRX11’ is disclosed, characterized by a prostrate, dwarf habit, and pink double flowers in spring that rebloom in early fall. The new cultivar is a Rhododendron, suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘NCRX11’ as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) ‘NCRX11’ is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the plant's form, foliage, and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the new hybrid Rhododendron.

(2) FIG. 1 Image showing a close-up of pink double flowers of ‘NCRX11’ in 3-gallon container; image taken from 3-year-old container plants grown in Grand Haven, Mich., in 2020.

(3) FIG. 2 Image showing floriferousness and habit of ‘NCRX11’ in a landscape setting in Grand Haven, Mich., in 2020.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(4) The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct hybrid evergreen azalea known by the denomination ‘NCRX11’. The detailed description was taken on a 3-year-old container-grown plant in Mills River, N.C., in 2021. Where pertinent, descriptive data was supplemented by observations/measurements taken on a 5-year-old individual located in field trials in Mills River, N.C., as well as information provided from cooperators in Grand Haven, Mich. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.), London, 2015 Edition. Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as is practicable. Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrid ‘NCRX11’.

PROPAGATION

(5) Typical method: Softwood cuttings. Root description: Dense, fibrous, freely branching, thin to medium texture. White to brown, not accurately measured with an R.H.S. chart. Time to initiate rooting: 6 to 8 weeks. Time to produce a rooted young plant: 12 to 16 weeks at 18 to 27° C.

PLANT

(6) Plant type: Evergreen azalea. Growth habit: Prostrate and dwarf. Height: 30 to 60 cm. Width: 60 to 75 cm. Growth rate: Moderate. Shoots (current year's growth): Length.—Average 3.5 cm (range 1 to 6 cm). Diameter.—About 0.2 cm. Color.—Strong Yellow Green (RHS 145A). Texture.—Pubescent. Shoots (prior year's growth): Length.—Average 6.2 cm. (range 3 to 9 cm.). Diameter.—About 0.2 cm. Color.—Moderate Brown (RHS 165A). Texture.—Sparsely pubescent. Branches (woody branches 2-4 years old): Length.—About 11 cm. Diameter.—About 0.6. Color.—Moderate Brown (RHS 165A). Texture.—Glabrous. Internode length: Average 1.2 cm (0.5 to 2.5 cm).

FOLIAGE

(7) Leaf: Type.—Simple, evergreen. Arrangement.—Alternate. Shape.—Ovate. Apex.—Mucronate. Base.—Cuneate. Margin.—Entire, ciliate. Venation.—Reticulate. Emerging leaf: Color.—Upper surface: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Lower surface: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Texture.—Upper surface: Pubescent. Lower surface: Pubescent. Mature leaf: Length.—About 2.5 cm. Width.—About 1 cm. Color.—Upper surface: Greyish Olive Green (RHS NN137A). Lower surface: Moderate Yellowish Green (RHS N138B). Texture.—Sparsely pubescent. Fall/winter leaf: Color.—Upper surface: Light Olive (RHS 152B). Lower surface: Light Greyish Olive (RHS 195A). Leaf attachment: Petiolate. Petiole: Length.—About 0.5 cm. Diameter.—About 0.1 cm. Color.—Moderate Yellow Green (RHS 147C). Texture.—Pubescent.

FLOWER

(8) Inflorescence: Type.—Congested terminal raceme (truss). Flowering season.—Mid-spring (mid-April-early May into June) reblooms in early fall (late September through October). Flowering habit.—Free-flowering. Flower number.—1-5 flowers per truss. Consistency in display.—Blooms reliably in the spring and consistently reblooms in the fall. Lastingness of flowers.—Each flower lasts approximately 3-7 days. Fragrance.—None. Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning. Truss bud: Length.—About 1 to 1.5 cm. Diameter.—About 0.5 to 0.8 cm. Bud scales: Number.—4 to 6. Length.—About 0.8 to 1.2 cm. Width.—About 0.5 to 1 cm. Color.—Light Yellow Green (RHS 145B). Texture.—Upper side is glabrous; lower side is pubescent at tip. Emerging flowers: Shape.—Elliptic, acuminate. Length.—2.5 to 3.5 cm. Diameter.—1.1 to 2 cm. Color.—Strong Purplish Pink (RHS 62A). Texture.—Glabrous. Perianth: Shape.—Funnel-shaped. Depth.—About 2.5 to 3.5 cm. Diameter at anthesis.—About 5 cm. Arrangement.—Whorled. Aspect.—Facing upwards and outwards. Attachment.—Pedicellate. Petals: Outer petals.—Number: 9 to 11. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Color: Color is consistent from opening to anthesis. Upper: Pale Purplish Pink (RHS 65D). Lower: Pale Purplish Pink (RHS 65D). Texture: Glabrous. Inner petals.—Number: Average range 5 to 7. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Color is consistent from opening to anthesis. Upper: Near RHS Red-Purple 65D, base and center flushed White N155C. Lower: Near RHS Red-Purple 65D, base flushed White N155C. Sepals: Number.—5. Length.—0.3 to 0.5 cm. Width.—About 0.1 cm. Shape.—Lanceolate. Apex.—Cuneate. Margin.—Ciliate. Color.—Strong Yellow Green (RHS 145A). Texture.—Pubescent. Pedicels: Shape.—Rounded. Length.—About 1 cm. Diameter.—About 0.15 cm. Color.—Strong Yellow Green (RHS 145A). Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

(9) Gynoecium: Pistil number.—0 to 1. Pistil length.—About 1.7 cm. Stigma shape.—Orbicular. Stigma length.—About 0.2 cm. Stigma width.—About 0.1 cm. Stigma color.—Pale Yellow Green (RHS 157A). Style length.—About 1.6 cm. Style diameter.—Less than 0.1 cm. Style color.—White (RHS N155D). Ovary shape.—Dome-shaped. Ovary length.—About 0.5 cm. Ovary diameter.—About 0.3 cm. Ovary color.—Strong Yellow Green (RHS 145A). Texture.—Pubescent. Androecium: Stamen number.—0 to 5. Anther shape.—Ovoid with two apical pores. Anther attachment.—Dorsifixed. Anther length.—Less than 0.1 cm. Anther width.—Less than 0.1 cm. Anther color.—Dark Red (RHS 183A). Filament length.—About 2 cm. Filament diameter.—Less than 0.1 cm. Filament color.—Pale Purplish Pink (RHS 65D). Amount of pollen.—Normal. Pollen type.—Thread-like. Pollen color.—Greenish White (RHS NN155C).

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

(10) Fruit: Type.—Capsule. Length.—About 0.6 to 1.0 cm if successfully pollinated, about 0.4 cm if not. Diameter.—About 0.5 to 1.0 cm if successfully pollinated, about 0.4 cm if not. Color.—Immature fruit color: Strong Yellow Green (RHS 145A). Mature fruit color: Moderate Brown (RHS 200D). Texture.—Pubescent. Seed: Number.—0 to hundreds per capsule. Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm. Diameter.—Less than 0.1 cm. Color.—Moderate Orange Yellow (RHS 164B). Texture.—Glabrous. Disease and pest resistance: Not observed to be susceptible nor resistant to normal diseases and pests of Rhododendron. Temperature tolerance: Has been reliably cold hardy in USDA 6B.