Hybridizing Rhododendrons in the Midwest Climate H. Roland
Schroeder, M.D. Reprinted from Massachusetts Chapter "Rosebay"
This is an update on my hybridizing program for producing hardy
rhododendrons in the Midwest region of the United States. I must
say at the outset that I am a neophyte at hybridizing, and that
this program is only eleven years old. You soon learn that this
amount of time is almost infinitesimal when it comes to
hybridizing. There are no native azaleas in this region, and the
climate is a hostile one. The soil along the Ohio River is acid,
and would be conducive to raising rhododendrons if it weren't
for the climate. Some climatological data about this area is
worthy of note. The prevailing wind direction is from the south,
but during the winter months we have strong cold winds blowing
from the north and northwest, following cold frontal passages,
and the arctic dome of frigid air settles in. But as soon as the
high pressure ridge moves by, moderation usually begins, with
the wind shifting