Large evergreen shrubs or small trees with densely woolly leaves and young branches. One of the finest foliage plants in the genus with pinkish brown indumentum on the upper and lower surfaces of the emerging foliage. This is retained on the lower surface and young stems, changing to a reddish brown as it matures. The white flushed pink to pink flowers appear in mid-spring and are sometimes spotted with purple or crimson. Best in shade as the foliage scorches in hot sunny exposures. Native to N Yunnan, China where it occurs from 10,000 to 12,750 ft. in forests, rhododendron thickets and open alpine slopes. A classic species for every collection.
1964/030Tower Court:Windsor(-10).Chinese species of sturdy, handsome foliate in a form with light-pink flowers.
1975/011Hilliers (-10\R1\4). White flushed rose flowers with magenta flecks.
1975/081Exbury(-10).
1975/138BRA.L:ROBB(-10).White flowers on this form.
1976/190RBG(-10).Flowers open light pink with purple flecks from rose-colored buds.
1977/151WEB(H4).
1983/036BEN:TJ(-10).Form with white flowers.
1984/147Larson (-10\R1\4). White flushed pink flowers.
1995sd544(“cruentum)CNW#957:Sinclair(-10\R1\4).Grown from seed collected wild as R. cruentum, a former species which has been lumped into R. bureavii due to a complete intergradation of characteristics between the two taxa.Attractive foliage plant with a red-brown indumentum on the leaves and stems.White flushed pink flowers in mid-spring.
1996sd537SEH#211:RSBG(-10\R1\4).These are grown from my collection of seed at 12,850 ft. in the Wumeng Shan of NE Yunnan.Beautiful foliage on these rarely offered wild-source plants.
