- Broadleaf evergreen shrub, 4 ft (1.2 m), dense, symmetrical. It is a sport of ‘Unique’ to which it appears identical until it blooms; compare flowers and compare flowering plants. Flowers openly funnel-shaped, wavy lobes, about 7 cm across, pale pink with light yellow throat. In spherical clusters of 10-12 flowers.
- -5° F, early-mid, 3-4/5/4 [flower/plant & foliage/performance; scale 1 (poor) - 5 (best)]. Sun to part shade; can take heat.
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The 'Bruce Brechtbill' rhododendron originated at Brechtbill’s Nursery in Eugene, Oregon. In the early 1960s, Bruce Brechtbill, the owner of the nursery, noticed that a ‘Unique’ rhododendron growing in his yard had a few pink blooms among the usual nearly white flowers. He propagated cuttings from the shots with pink flowers; these subsequently flowered but only produced white blooms. Bruce then layered a branch of the ‘Unique’ plant which bore pink flowers to encourage its rooting. After establishing this plant, he again took several cuttings; they produced pink flowers and, after observing them for several seasons, found they did not revert to the typical white ‘Unique’ flowers. Bruce had not yet registered this new rhododendron before his untimely death in 1973. Bruce had not planned to name the rhododendron after himself, but his wife, Dolores, and other family members, decided to name it Bruce Brechtbill to honor him upon his recent passing. ‘Bruce Brechtbill’ was registered by Dolores Brechtbill and the Brechtbill Nursery.
- Corvallis: along River Front Park, 1st Street.
- Oregon State Univ. campus: north side of east extension to Burt Hall (College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences)
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plant habit, flowering
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plant habit, flowering
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leaves and flowers
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flower clusters
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flower
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leaves and bud
