Outstanding Hybrid Rhododendrons and their Hybridizers
When rhododendron enthusiasts shop for special new hybrids for their gardens, they know to look for those created by several renowned Pacific Coast hybridizers.
Jim Barlup and Frank Fujioka are the more recent West Coast creators of notable rhododendron hybrids.
Jim Barlup’s Rhododendron ‘Sun Silk’ and Frank Fujioka’s Rhododendron ‘Starbright Champagne’ in bud behind. These rhododendrons were selected and planted by the home owners as prize features on both sides of the front entrance to their home.
Jim Barlup
Jim Barlup of Bellevue, Washington, USA, is know for hybridizing a large number of brilliant rhododendrons. In 1974, he decided to landscape his yard and wanted to do so using orange, peach, apricot and coral-coloured rhododendrons. He realized quickly that there few compact rhododendrons in yellow, peach, and blended shades of warm colours available in the market, and if he wanted that, he would have to create them himself. He set several goals and parameters for hybrids he was hoping to produce, that would fill this gap in the market. Eventually, he realized the complexity of the process meant that he would have to create his own parent plants, intermediary hybrids, to build the gene pool that he required. Jim Burlap registered many intermediary rhododendrons so that future hybridizers could track the parentage.
Barlup explained that hybridizers require great patience as it can take from four to six years for a hybrid to flower and to observe it before determining if it meets the set goals and expectations, and it can take ten years to name and register the hybrid.
His more than 250 hybrids have intriguing plant names that came to him in a variety of ways. ‘Heidi’s Love’ and ‘Mindi’s Love’ were named after his dogs. He named ‘Carol’s Candy’ after the woman who looked after this hybrid and said it looked like candy. His names are often comprised of two words, and in time a rhododendron fan can recognize when a rhododendron might be one of Jim Barlup’s simply from its name.
Barlup’s hybrid, Rhododendron ‘Moe’s Journey’
Moe Massa, proudly lifts the leaf of a big leaf rhododendron that he had grown from seed.
Hybridizers also establish goals such as exceptional foliage and the desired mature size of their hybrids.
Jim Barlup with his rhododendron hybrid ‘Laramie’.
Rhododendron ‘Laramie’
has lovely dark green mature foliage and fuzzy, silver-grey new growth.
See more at: Jim Barlup's Registered Rhododendron Hybrids
Frank Fujioka
Frank Fujioka of Whidbey Island, Washington, USA, was extraordinarily selective in choosing hybrids to register.
Frank, like Jim, also advises young hybridizers that they will need patience.
"Spend time researching genetic backgrounds of hybrids to look for characteristics you want. Plan on long-term results, two-three-four generations down. Experiment with species which have rarely or never been used."
Frank's garden is a hybridizer's working garden containing most of his own hybrid rhododendrons.
Frank Fujioka’s garden has been described as a work of art:
“On the west side of his garden, Frank landscaped with lepidotes, weaving them into a carpet of bloom, strong enough to withstand the harsh, island winds and sun from the west. The vista to the east of the garden integrated Japanese maples, dwarf conifers and sculpted plant materials which provided year-long interest. Frank's artistic eye orchestrated the colours of stems, leaf buds and blossoms to create a symphony of hues whether the garden was in spring bloom or its autumn cloak.”
He was known for mercilessly culling young plants that did not meet his standards of perfection. Rhododendrons that passed his stringent reviewing processes include: 'Cranberry Lace', 'Starbright Champagne', 'Elsie Watson', 'Midnight Mystique' and 'Seaview Sunset'.
Rhododendron ‘Glowing Gold’
Rhododendron ‘Glowing Gold’
Fujioka received Best New Hybrid awards from the Seattle Chapter for 'Primary Pink' and 'Cranberry Lace'. Additionally, Mr. Fujioka was awarded the ARS Bronze Medal and served on the Board of Directors for the Whidbey Island Chapter.
See more at: Hybridizer Profile: Fujioka, Frank