arhs Yachts International
arhs Yachts International

The Kentville Research Station, Kentville, NS

From 1952 to 1983 the Kentville Research Station, Kentville, Nova Scotia carried out an active rhododendron and azalea breeding programme. As well a cultivar and species evaluation programme ( see “Breeding Rhododendrons in Nova Scotia” by D.L. Craig, Rhododendron Society of Canada Bulletin, 1981, Vol.10 No.1 pp25-28. This research was carried on officially by Dr. Donald L. Craig from 1952 until his retirement in 1983 and jointly with the late George S. Swain from 1957-67 (retired).

The breeding programme was productive but it is believed that the evaluation of cultivars and species was also of great value in that it provided much new information as well as viewing pleasure for the general public. The display garden and trial areas still create quite a sensation on Rhododendron Sunday each year in early June.

Visit the Kentville Research Station.

 

Name Seedling #24 (x 6821) - breeding plant only<br/>Breeder George S. Swain. Selected by D. L. Craig<br/>Parentage (R. catawbiense v. album 'Glass' x 'Dr Dresselhuys') x 'Nova Zembla'<br/>Habit - large, open<br/>Exposure - bright shade<br/>Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/>Bloom Time - regular

Seedling #24 (x 6821)

Name 'Bellefontaine'<br/>Breeder R. B. Pike, Lubec, Maine, USA<br/>Selected by Donald L. Craig<br/>Parentage R. fortunei x R. smirnowii<br/>Habit - very large<br/>Exposure - very bright shade<br/>Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/>Flower buds hardy to at least -26C<br/>Bloom Time-regular.

‘Bellefontaine’

Name 'Cornwallis' (Syn. Acadia)<br/>Breeder seed from F.W.Schumacher, Sandwich, Massachusetts, USA.<br/>Selected by:<br/>Donald L. Craig<br/>Parentage R. fortunei (open-pollinated)<br/>Habit - large<br/>Exposure - very bright shade<br/>Hardiness - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/>Bloom Time - regular

‘Cornwallis’ (Syn. Acadia)

Name 'Fundy' (syn. Evangeline)<br/> Breeder Leslie Hancock, Missisauga, Ontario. Selected by Donald L. Craig<br/> Parentage (R. fortunei x R. smirnowii)<br/> Habit - very large<br/> Exposure - very bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - regular

‘Fundy’ (syn. Evangeline)

Name 'Gabriel'<br/> Breeder George S. Swain<br/> Parentage - Dr Dresselhuys x R. smirnowii<br/> Habit - large<br/> Exposure - sun to part-sun<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5A<br/> Bloom Time - regular

‘Gabriel’

Name 'George S. Swain'<br/> Breeder Donald L. Craig. Selected by D.L. Craig<br/> Parentage ['Goldworth Yellow' x ( R. catawbiense v. album 'Glass' x'Theresa')]<br/> Habit - large compact<br/> Exposure - very bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 6a<br/> Bloom Time - early

‘George S. Swain’

Name 'Jenny Gunn'<br/> Breeder - Selected by: Donald L. Craig<br/> Parentage - open-pollinated seed from the Windsor Great Park, selected by D.L. Craig<br/> Habit - compact, mid-size<br/> Exposure - part-sun<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - regular

‘Jenny Gunn’

Name 'Margaret Gunn'<br/> Breeder George Swain. Selected by D.L. Craig<br/> Parentage R. yakushimanum x R. catawbiense v. album 'Glass'<br/> Habit - large compact<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - regular

‘Margaret Gunn’

Name 'Minas Flame'<br/> Breeder George Swain. Selected by: Donald L. Craig<br/> Parentage 'Gibraltar' x 'Balzac'<br/> Habit - large compact<br/> Exposure - sun to part-sun<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - regular

‘Minas Flame’

Name 'Minas Gold'<br/> Breeder George S. Swain. Selected by: D. L. Craig<br/> Parentage 'Golden Dream' x R. luteum<br/> Habit - large<br/> Exposure - sun to part-sun<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - early mid-season

‘Minas Gold’

Name 'Minas Grand Pre'<br/> (also known locally as Grand Pre)<br/> Breeder George S. Swain. Selected by: D. L. Craig<br/> Parentage R. catawbiense var. compactum x R. williamsianum<br/> Habit - compact, mid-size<br/> Exposure - bright shade, part-sun<br/> Hardiness - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - early mid-season

‘Minas Grand Pre’

Name 'Minas Maid'<br/> Breeder George S. Swain. Selected by D.L. Craig<br/> Parentage 'Nova Zembla' x R. yakushimanum<br/> Habit - large compact<br/> Exposure - part-sun<br/> Hardiness - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - mid-season

‘Minas Maid’

Name 'Minas Peace'<br/> Breeder D.L. Craig. Selected by D.L. Craig<br/> Parentage (R. catawbiense var. album 'Glass' x R. degronianum) x R.yakushimanum<br/> Habit - large, compact<br/> Exposure - bright shade to part-sun<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone<br/> Bloom Time - early

‘Minas Peace’

Name 'Minas Princess'<br/> Breeder seed ex F.W. Schumacher at Sandwich, Massachusetts, USA. Selected by: Donald L. Craig<br/> Parentage Ghent hybrid, open-pollinated<br/> Habit - large, open<br/> Exposure - sun to part-sun<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone<br/> Bloom Time - regular

‘Minas Princess’

Name 'Minas Rose Dawn'<br/> Breeder Donald L. Craig. Selected by: D. L. Craig<br/> Parentage : ('Nova Zembla' x R. yakushimanum) x (R. catawbiense v. album 'Glass' x 'Elizabeth')<br/> Habit - mid-size, compact<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - mid-season

‘Minas Rose Dawn’

Name 'Minas Snow' breeder plant<br/> Breeder George S. Swain. Selected by: D. L. Craig<br/> Parentage 'Cunningham's White' x R. yakushimanum<br/> Habit - large compact<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 6B<br/> Bloom Time - regular

‘Minas Snow’

Name s70-17<br/> Breeder George. S. Swain. Selected by: D. L. Craig<br/> Parentage - R. catawbiense v. album 'Glass' x 'Elizabeth'<br/> Habit - large<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - regular

s70-17

Name s75-27<br/> Breeder George S. Swain. Selected by: D. L. Craig<br/> Parentage - 'Purple Splendour' x R. yakushimanum<br/> Habit - large compact<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - mid-season

s75-27

Name s75-31<br/> Breeder D.L. Craig. Selected by: Donald L. Craig<br/> Parentage - ('Redhead' x R. yakushimanum) x (R.catawbiense v. album 'Glass' x 'Elizabeth')<br/> Habit - compact, mid-size<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - late

s75-31

Name s77-04<br/> Breeder D.L. Craig. Selected by: Donald L. Craig<br/> Parentage: ('Nova Zembla' x R. yakushimanum) x (R. catawbiense v. album 'Glass' x 'Elizabeth')<br/> Habit - large<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - mid-season

s77-04

Name s81-08<br/> Breeder D.L. Craig. Selected by: Donald L. Craig<br/> Parentage [Goldsworth's Yellow x (R. catawniense v. album 'Glass' x 'Theresa') x (R. catawbiense v. album 'Glass' x 'Goldsworth Yellow')]<br/> Habit - large<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 6A<br/> Bloom Time - regular

s81-08

Name s80-04 breeding plant<br/> Breeder D.L. Craig. Selected by: Donald L. Craig<br/> Parentage - (R. fortunei x R.smirnowii) (R. yakushimanum x 'Goldsworth Yellow')<br/> Habit - large<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - regular

s80-04

Name s81-11<br/> Breeder D.L. Craig. Selected by: Donald L. Craig<br/> Parentage (R.catawbiense.v. album 'Glass' x R. yakushimanum) x (R.catawbiense.v. album x 'Glass' x 'Elizabeth')<br/> Habit - not given<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - regular

s81-11

Name 'Sue Gunn'<br/> Breeder Donald L. Craig. Selected by: D. L. Craig<br/> Parentage ('Nova Zembla' x R. yakushimanum) x (R. catawbiense v album 'Glass' x 'Elizabeth')<br/> Habit - large compact<br/> Exposure - bright shade<br/> Hardiness Zone - Ag Canada Hardiness Zone 5B<br/> Bloom Time - mid-season

‘Sue Gunn’