Sandra McDonaldAzaleas

Sandra and Ken McDonald – Aug 2012

• Photo by Rick Bauer

Sandra McDonald’s Biography• Born in Kansas City, KS• 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 nurseryspecializing in azaleas andrhododendron (later renamed Le-Mac Azaleas).

• Did hybridizing, worked withchemicals and computer work.

Le-Mac Nursery• Retail and wholesale nursery

founded by Ken McDonald andJacques LeGendre in 1927

• Located in Elizabeth CityCounty, VA (now Hampton,VA)

• Picked for mild climate andaccess for shipping

• In early days, they purchasedflorist type azaleas fromAlphonse Pericat

Le-Mac Nursery – cont’d

• Most of these Pericatazaleas of Formosa-Kurume hybrids couldoverwinter in Zone 8

Aerial View of Le-Mac ca. 1930Photographer unknown

Le-Mac Beds ca. 1967Photographer unknown

Le-Mac Nursery – cont’d

• Most of these Pericatazaleas of Formosa-Kurume hybrids couldoverwinter in Zone 8

• Introduced a number ofhybrids and propagatedand grew many Pericatvarieties

Le-Mac Beds ca. 1967Photographer unknown

Le-Mac Nursery – cont’d

• Most of these Pericatazaleas of Formosa-Kurume hybrids couldoverwinter in Zone 8

• Introduced a number ofhybrids and propagatedand grew many Pericatvarieties

• Retail nursery closedduring WWII. Wholesaleportion remained open

Le-Mac Cold Frames ca. 1967Photographer unknown

Le-Mac Nursery – cont’d• Most of these Pericat

azaleas of Formosa-Kurume hybrids couldoverwinter in Zone 8

• Introduced a number ofhybrids and propagatedand grew many Pericatvarieties

• Retail nursery closedduring WWII. Wholesaleportion remained open

• Retail reopened after waras McDonalds Nursery

Le-Mac Beds ca. 2001Photographer unknown

Hybridization Goals

• Improve the hardiness ofthe relatively tender floristvariety azaleas

Double Red

Hybridization Goals

• Improve the hardiness ofthe relatively tender floristvariety azaleas

• Produce lower growingazaleas for compact yards

Pure Perfection

Hybridization Goals

• Improve the hardiness ofthe relatively tender floristvariety azaleas

• Produce lower growingazaleas for compact yards

• Fill gaps in color form andcolor within existing azaleavarieties

Sandra’s Fancy

Hybridization Goals

• Improve the hardiness ofthe relatively tender floristvariety azaleas

• Produce lower growingazaleas for compact yards

• Fill gaps in color form andcolor within existing azaleavarieties

• Expand the bloom season Sweet Freckles

Hybridization Goals

• Improve the hardiness ofthe relatively tender floristvariety azaleas

• Produce lower growingazaleas for compact yards

• Fill gaps in color form andcolor within existing azaleavarieties

• Expand the bloom season• Watch for new and different

characteristics

Williamsburg Rose Bouquet

Azalea Varieties

Cape Cod

Cape Cod Parentage

Gumpo White Wakaebisu

• Photo by Brent Wilson • Photo by Bob Stelloh

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 GemA77-20-1

Chessie’s Lavender Gem Parentage

Elsie Lee

• Photo by Bob Stelloh

Elsie Lee

• 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 CrossChessie’s Pink

A77-20-2Chessie’s Purple

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 attips 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• 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

• Photo by Hyatt

MiniCarnations

Mini Carnations Parentage

Ripples

• Photo by Richard Clifton

Evening Glow

Photo not available

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

NegligeeA81-9-1

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 – 3-4th 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

• Photo from Allseasonplants

Hershey’s Red-tetra

• Photo of Hershey’s Red byDan 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 Bob Stelloh• Photo by Brent Wilson

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 tothe stalk) to elliptical, glossy SpinachGreen

• Plant growth habit - 20” x 36” in 6 yrs• Shrub habit - Broad, branching well

with decumbent branches• Hardiness – 5 ° F

• Photo by Dan Krabill

Rosy Frills

Rosy Frills Parentage

Girard’s Hot Shot Hershey’s Red-tetra

• Photo of Hershey’s Red byDan 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 IceA81-14

Sandra’s Green Ice Parentage

Elsie Lee

• Photo by Bob Stelloh

Anna Kehr

• Photo by Joe Coleman

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• Hardiness – at least 3 ° F

Photo by Don Hyatt

Photo David Taylor

Photo David Taylor

Sandra’s Misty Morn

Sandra’s Misty Morn Parentage

Venus (Henson) Girard’s Hot Shot

Sandra’s Misty Morn Description• Color – Pale purplish pink with white

throat, pale green dorsal blotch• Size – 3.1” x 3.1”• Number per head – 2-3• Number of Lobes - 5 wavy edged lobes• Shape – openly funnel shaped• Form – single• Margins - decurved• Time of bloom – Early May• Foliage – obovate, glossy, moderate

yellow green• Plant growth habit - 1.7’ x 1.7’ in 7

years• Hardiness – at least 0⁰ F

Venus’ Baby

Photo by Hyatt

Venus’ Baby Parentage

Venus (Henson) Girard’s Hot Shot

• Photo Allseasonsplants

Venus’ Baby Description• Color – light to pale purplish pink

with a white blotch and light greenspotting in dorsal throat

• Size – 4.2” wide x 2.4” long• Number per head - 2• Number of Lobes - 5 wavy edged• Shape – openly funnel shaped• Form – single with occasional

petaloid stamens• Time of bloom – May• Foliage – obovate, flat 2.4” long x

1.25” wide, moderate yellow green• Plant growth habit - 4’ x 3.7’• Shrub habit - upright and spreading• Hardiness – at least 0° F

Williamsburg

Williamsburg Parentage

Gumpo

• Photo by Brent Wilson

Wakaebisu

• Photo by Bob Stelloh

Williamsburg Description• Color – White with greenish throat and

occasional sectors, stripes and flecks ofvivid reddish orange

• Size – 2.5-3” across x 1” wide• Number per head – 1-2• Number of Lobes - 5 lobed• Shape – nearly flat face, openly funnel

shaped• Form – hose-in-hose• Margins - wavy• Time of bloom – mid-June• Foliage – 1.5” long x 5/8” wide, obovate,

flat• Plant growth habit - 22” x 40” in 12 years• Shrub habit - low spreading• Hardiness – at least -3° F

Williamsburg Rose Bouquet

Photo by James

Williamsburg Rose Bouquet Parentage

Ripples

• Photo by Richard Clifton

Evening Glow

Photo not found

Williamsburg Rose BouquetDescription

• Color – deep purplish pink with afew tiny strong purplish red spots

• Size – 1.5” x 2”• Number per head – 2-3• Number of Lobes - frilly edged

lobes• Shape – broadly funnel shaped• Form – hose-in-hose double• Time of bloom – Early April• Foliage – obovate, semi-glossy,

dark yellowish green• Plant growth habit - 3’ x 3’ within

15 years• Shrub habit - intermediate• Hardiness – at least 0° F

Other McDonaldVarieties

AngelWingsUnk Parentage

Blushing AngelDainty Rose × Ho-o?

Dainty AngelA75-1-F

Dainty Rose × Ho-o

David’s ChoiceA75-1-F

Dainty Rose × Ho-o

Fancy FaceA85-9-9

Unk (pinkdeWildrogue?) × Blushing Angel

Little CherubDainty Rose × Ho-o

Mademoiselle YvetteA-76-7-7

Unk Parentage

Salmon MoundA75-1-H

Dainty Rose × Unk

Salmon SunriseA75-1-G

Dainty Rose × Unk

Photo by James

Sandra’s Dwarf WhiteUnk Parentage

Sandra’s White SurpriseDainty Rose × Unk

Additional Legacy Actions

• Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the American Rhododendronsociety is working with the Norfolk Botanical Gardento establish a Sandra McDonald Garden

Additional Legacy Actions

• Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the American Rhododendronsociety is working with the Norfolk Botanical Gardento establish a Sandra McDonald Garden

• Cuttings of McDonald varieties are being propagatedby NV-ASA members to be featured in future plantsales and auctions

Questions?