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The Barbara Cook Rhododendron was named and hybridized by Patricia Walton of Mahwah, New Jersey in the late 1980s. Pat writes the following:
“The rhododendron ‘Barbara Cook’ originated as the result of my raising seed obtained from the seed exchange of the American Rhododendron Society. The cross was made by a gentleman in Ohio, and I ended up with only two plants which were planted outside and took eight years to attain bloom size. I chose the first one as a promising selection, as it had large, peach pink flowers with frilly edges. I was very fortunate consequently, to see Barbara for the first time, and she graciously permitted me to name the plant in her honor. I frequently use it in my hybridizing program, as do many of my friends, and it has been a rewarding parent. I recently received an email from some people in Canada who have named a new rhododendron from my cross of rhododendrons ‘Janet Blair’ x ‘Barbara Cook’. They got my seeds from the ARS seed exchange, and so it goes. It is gratifying to know that something worthwhile has come from your work with plants.”
“The rhododendron ‘Barbara Cook’ originated as the result of my raising seed obtained from the seed exchange of the American Rhododendron Society. The cross was made by a gentleman in Ohio, and I ended up with only two plants which were planted outside and took eight years to attain bloom size. I chose the first one as a promising selection, as it had large, peach pink flowers with frilly edges. I was very fortunate consequently, to see Barbara for the first time, and she graciously permitted me to name the plant in her honor. I frequently use it in my hybridizing program, as do many of my friends, and it has been a rewarding parent. I recently received an email from some people in Canada who have named a new rhododendron from my cross of rhododendrons ‘Janet Blair’ x ‘Barbara Cook’. They got my seeds from the ARS seed exchange, and so it goes. It is gratifying to know that something worthwhile has come from your work with plants.”