The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden invites you to our next webinar on
November 19, 2026, at 5 p.m. PST with Joe Bruso, hybridizer, propagator, and grower of rhododendron species and hybrids.
Join us for a look at more than two decades of hybridizing efforts focused on expressing what Joe calls the “Red Max Effect” in hybrids between Rhododendron maximum and other species and hybrids.
Many rhododendron enthusiasts are familiar with forms of Rhododendron maximum that exhibit unusual amounts of reddish pigment in their flowers, foliage, stems, and/or sap. Known as “red maximum” or “Red Max,” these plants have a fascinating history dating back to the 1930s, when an unusual plant was discovered by an engineer working on construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
During this webinar, Joe will share the results of more than 25 years of hybridizing using a R. maximum seedling known as “maximum RP,” which he obtained from the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden. The plant originated from the Garden’s accession 75/137, described as a R. maximum ‘Mt. Mitchell’ form, selfed, with erratic marbling and red pigment in the leaves and flowers.
Joe has made hundreds of crosses using maximum RP as the seed parent, with pollen from hardy and tender species as well as numerous hybrids. A small percentage of the resulting seedlings have exhibited the Red Max Effect, with considerable variation in how the red pigmentation appears and how intensely it is expressed.
Joe will discuss his observations from these crosses, including examples where the effect appears in flowers, foliage, stems, sap, and other parts of the plant. He will also explore the variability and unpredictability of the trait, including why some seedlings express the effect while others do not and why its expression can change over time.
One particularly notable cross, maximum RP × Rhododendron elegantulum, produced the Red Max Effect in all seven plants Joe retained through flowering. The resulting plants show considerable variation, ranging from plants with predominantly red trusses to others with a mixture of red, bicolor, and pink flowers.
The presentation follows Joe’s article, “The Red Maximum Effect,” published in the most recent Journal of the American Rhododendron Society.
Whether you are interested in rhododendron hybridizing, unusual forms of R. maximum, plant propagation, or breeding for distinctive foliage and flowers, this webinar offers a fascinating look at more than two decades of experimentation with one of rhododendron’s most intriguing traits.
Price: $20 for RSBG members | $30 for non-members + tax
Registration closes on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Joe Bruso is a hybridizer, propagator, and grower of rhododendron species and hybrids, with a focus on attractive foliage as well as flowers. He maintains a five-acre woodland display garden in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and is the current president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. Joe also serves as a Member at Large on the Rhododendron Species Foundation Board.
To register at the group rate, please contact the RSBG office at info@rhodygarden.org or 253-345-2517. November Webinar Web Page Description
Whether you are interested in species rhododendrons, plant exploration, botanical collections, or simply the remarkable landscapes of Japan, this webinar offers a behind-the-scenes look at an important chapter in the Garden’s ongoing work.
Price: $20 for RSBG members | $30 for non-members + tax
Registration closes on Tuesday, November 17 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
NEW! Group rate is available for Associate Members $250
To register at the group rate, please contact the RSBG office at info@rhodygarden.org or 253-345-2517.
You do NOT need a PayPal account to complete payment – see details below
Can’t make it to the live Zoom webinar? Don’t worry! You can still register and submit a payment for the event, and a link to the recording will be sent directly to you! Please include a comment in your registration form letting us know.
- When you register for the webinar, you will receive an email confirming your pending reservation for the webinar. Next, you must complete your payment to secure your spot. Note: Please ensure you input an email where you’d like the link and recording sent to (email used during registration will be sent the link).
- You can pay with a credit card/VISA on PayPal (you do not need a PayPal account) – click the button “Pay via PayPal” > click “Pay with Debit or Credit Card” > Check out as a Guest by entering your email address > enter your payment information > ensure the toggle is off towards the bottom of the screen to pay as a guest.
- On the morning of the scheduled webinar, you will receive an email from RSBG staff with a link to the Zoom
webinar and further instructions on how to join.
How to Join the Meeting
- Please note that you do not need a Zoom account to attend the lecture. However, you will be required to download Zoom software on your device. There are two ways to do this:Visit Zoom.us and find the “RESOURCES” drop-down menu at the very top of the webpage. Hover your mouse over the arrow next to “RESOURCES” and select “Download Zoom Client” from the drop-down menu. Select the first download button on this page labeled “Zoom Client for Meetings.”
OR
- Click on the lecture link, which will be emailed to you. The link will prompt you to download the software.
- You do not need a webcam or a microphone to participate; you will need a device with speakers to hear the lecture.
- All Zoom registrants will be muted during the lecture. We will take questions in the chat functions and answer them in a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
Questions? Email us at info@RhodyGarden.org.
November Webinar: Hybridizing for the Red Maximum Effect
November 19, 2026
Thursday
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
ZOOM Event
Location Map: See below