'Tapestry' has flowers almost as purple as 'Purple Splendour,' but no comparison to 'Blue Boy.' The picture here is actually fairly accurate. It's a rather reddish purple. The registration in the Journal of the ARS, V.3 n.2, Spring 1999, says "Plant and bud hardy to at least -20F," and I really hope this is true. I purchased the plant at the ARS Ann Arbor chapter's plant sale in Spring 2000. I really have high hopes for this plant, and since the Mezzits plant this stuff out for their landscaping business, it has to be hardy.

'Purpureum Splendens' is unregistered, and is used by the Mezzits for breeding. In Rhododendron Hybrids, 3rd edition, by Homer E. Salley, 2000, the parentage reads: 'Purple Splendour' x purple flowered catawbiense hybrid. I have to believe the registration on this one, although 'Purple Splendour' is probably in the parentage somewhere.

Parentage: 'Purpureum Splendens' x catawbiense hybrid

Hybridizer: Edmund V. Mezzit, 1971.

Introduced: Weston Nurseries, 1995.

Registered: R. Wayne Mezzit, 1999.