Legacy Project Page

Klimavicz Azaleas

Azalea ‘Antoinette Martin’, Photo by Joe Klimavicz

Legacy Lead: Carolyn Beck ⇐ Click to send Carolyn an email

Hybridizer: Joe Klimavicz
Joe is an avid hybridizer of evergreen azaleas-a passion of his since the late 1980s when he lived in Springfield VA near more established azalea hybridizers--Bob Stewart and Pete Vines. With a few azaleas from Bob and Pete, Joe moved to his current Vienna, Virginia one-third acre lot, and his hybridizing really took off.

Joe's garden is an example of highly intensive azalea cultivation. Each year, Joe makes around 10 crosses and brings out of his basement close to 1000 new azalea hybrids each year, but discards almost all of them after they first flower, retaining only the best. The Klimavicz hybridization program is aimed at developing a plant that is vigorous, and disease and insect resistant, with a flower that is unusual and long-lasting. He has registered 20 azaleas to date.

Joe lives in Vienna with his wife, Brenda and their three daughters, and he has always welcomed garden tours and visitors; especially in the spring. Incidentally, Joe's daughters began their own hybridizing in elementary school, and the oldest daughter published an original research paper, "Polyploidization of Evergreen Azaleas" (see in Attachments, below) in the Azalean at age 16.

Joe Klimavicz (L) & Buddy Lee (R) Photo by Brenda Klimavicz

Project Presentation: (None available at this time)

Project Attachments:

A sampling of Klimavicz cultivars
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Antoinette Martin © Joe Klimavicz	Barbara Tozzi © Joe Klimavicz	Beautiful Beth © Joe Klimavicz	Bob Stewart © Joe Klimavicz	Caitlin Marie © Carolyn Beck	Everlasting Ella © Joe Klimavicz	James Scott © Joe Klimavicz	Mary Jane Cummings © Joe Klimavicz