The Back Acre hybrids, shown here were developed by B. Y. Morrison at Pass Christian, Mississippi following his retirement from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. They are shown here in hopes of finding the lost Back Acres azaleas.  There were 53 registered, several of these are now presumed lost.  Shown here are many others that were not  in the original registration that have distribution under now generally accepted names, and some under the numbers they were grown.  There are 8 pages of illustrations with additional photographs obtainable by clicking on the flowers. If there is a line around an images, please click on flower to see more information and images of the flowers.

The Back Acres hybrids were developed by B. Y. Morrison at Pass Christian, Mississippi following his retirement from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Clones were first introduced in 1964 and registered 1964-65.

The breeding work is largely an extension of work with the Glenn Dale Hybrids based on a continuing interest in late blooming and double flowering clones. 124 flats of seedlings were moved from Maryland to Morrison s home, Back Acres, in Mississippi in 1951. Over 500 crosses were made with 370 numbered clones selected for testing and evaluation. Many of the unnamed numbered clones are still being grown and evaluated by collectors and friends.

Foliage is of heavy texture and tolerant of high air temperatures. The flowers are of equally heavy texture and generally appear in mid to late mid season. The plants with a few exceptions are as cold resistant as the Glenn Dale Hybrids zone 7a, but the flowers are not as cold resistant.
 
          Ben Morrison and his friend Stewart Anderson  1956                                    Ben Morrison 1956
 

Clicking on a flower bloom will bring up a page of more information.

On each page is the contemporary description of the flower as found in Fred C. Galle's Azaleas  Timber Press, Portland Oregon. 1985.  The material above on this page also came from Galle's book.

The number that Ben Morrison grew the plants under before they were named.. (From notes giving to me by George Harding)
Also I will add some unregistered but named varieties and some of the numbered Back Acres.

The written description that Ben Morrison use when he registered the Back Acres Azaleas with the Royal Horticultural Society in 1964 and 1965.

Please note that as Mr. Morrison says in the description of Apricot Honey the flowers do not always bloom true to description until they are mature.  This often takes 7 or more years.  Also be aware the plants may bloom differently year to year even when they are mature.  There is also tremendous variation between blooms on the same plant.  Please check the additional photograph of Storm Cloud.  There you will see a slide set up by George Harding with 3 very different bloom on the same plant.

I have tried to accurately report the information given to me by George Harding.  George Harding was a though scholar and very accurate in his research and observations.  Any error and mistake are of my doing and I ask the readers indulgences.   Please  send me any corrections or additional information you may have.