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An extremely variable evergreen shrub or small tree.  The leaves range in shape from almost linear in var. oreonastes  to oblong or oblanceolate and up to 1.5 inches wide in var. cucullatum.  The very attractive foliage has a thick and dark red-brown indumentum on the lower surface.  The flowers (mid-spring) are white or cream, often flushed with rose and spotted red.  Native over a wide range of NW Yunnan, SW Sichuan and adjacent SE Tibet where it occurs in various montane habitats from 11,000 to 14,000 ft.

1964/059  Rock Col.:WW  (0).  This dense, slow growing plant is attractive throughout the year with shiny dark green leaves covered below with thick rust-colored indumentum.  From a Rock collection.

 1965/472  Hillier  (-5).  A very dwarf form of a highly variable species.  Until recently this plant was listed as r. proteoides by the English nursery, and it does resemble a large version of that Yunnan native.

 1978/122  R#138:Smith, C.  (-5\R2\3).  This form is intermediate between the narrow and wide-leafed varieties.  Attractive, long and lanceolate, deep olive-green leaves.  Quite different from most forms in cultivation.

 2000sd239  JN#923:RSBG  (-15\R2\3).  These are beautiful young plants grown from seed collected wild by Jens Nielsen at 13,000 ft. in NW Yunnan from plants with “narrow leaves”.  These seedlings vary a bit and while the leaves of some are quite narrow (var. oreonastes), others are wider as you would typically find in var. roxieanum.  Excellent drainage a must.  Very attractive foliage.

 roxieanum var. cucullatum

1997sd261  AC#1968:rSBG  (-15\R2\3).  Grown from seed collected wild in Yunnan, China.  Beat in light shade and well-drained soil.

 1997sd304  JN#344:RSBG  (-15\R2\3).  As for 1997sd261 but from seed collected wild by Jens Nielsen at 12,960 ft. at 99 Dragon Pool, NW Yunnan, China.  One of the finest foliage plants in the genus.  Plants of this taxon in cultivation are often labeled “globigerum.”

1997sd305  JN#343:RSBG  (-15\R2\3).  These are beautiful young plants grown from seed collected wild by Jens Nielsen at 13,000 ft. on the Lao Chun Shan, NW Yunnan, China.  The wide glossy leaves are virtually sessile on the stems.  This variety typically prefers light shade.  Excellent drainage a must.

JN#736  These are beautiful young plants (var. cucullatum) grown from seed collected wild by Jens Nielsen at 13,500 ft. in NW Yunnan. The wide glossy leaves are virtually sessile on the stems. This variety typically prefers light shade. Excellent drainage a must.  (-15\R2\3)   RSBG#251sd2000

roxieanum var. oreonastes

Upright and compact evergreen shrubs or small trees (when very, very old). One of the finest foliage plants in the genus with long linear leaves less than one inch wide.  Quite distinct and almost coniferous in appearance. The leaves are dark and shiny green above with a thick and woolly brownish indumentum beneath. The flowers (mid-spring) are borne in a tight round inflorescence. They are white to cream in color often with a pink flush and reddish spots. This variety is tolerant of much more direct sunlight than its wider-leafed relatives. Native from the Tibet/Yunnan frontier into NW Yunnan and SW Sichuan, China from 11,000 to 14,000 ft. in a wide variety of montane habitats. 

 1973/221  (Parvum Group)  Hilliers (-15\R2\2).  The plants in this group are intermediate between the species roxieanum and proteoides.  This plant is also known as “proteoides affinity” and makes a nicely shaped mounded dwarf shrub with great foliage.

1974/038  NEL:BERG  (-5\R2\3).  White flowers with a few magenta spots on the upper lobe.

1974/117  Hilliers (-5\R2\3). White flowers with pale magenta flecks in mid-spring.  Compact shrubs with long linear leaves for a distinct "coniferous" look.

1974/128  R#:Windsor (-5\R2\3). Long and very narrow leaves on a compact and slow-    growing plant.  White flowers with a few magenta spots in mid-spring.  A choice specimen or accent plant.  Good in sun or light shade.  One of the most unusual and distinctive of all rhododendrons for fall foliage.

 1976/154  Windsor  (-5\R2\3).  The Award of Merit form (1973) of 1974/117 with white flowers spotted magenta on the upper lobe.  Always attracts the admiration of visitors to the garden.  A stunning foliage plant.

 1979/039  ("recurvum")  Hu#:Durre  (-5\R2\3).  Very dark green and glossy leaves that are slightly wider than those of most forms of var. oreonastes.  Very compact and attractive.  White flowers in mid-spring.

2000/263 JN#740  Choice and slow-growing rounded shrubs with superb foliage. The long and very narrow leaves are deep glossy green above with a deep red-brown indumentum beneath. White flowers in mid-spring, often with red flecks. Grown from seed collected wild in Yunnan, China by Jens Nielsen.

roxieanum  var. roxieanum

Shrubs, 6 inches to 13 ft.  Flowers (April) creamy white, white, white flushed pink, rarely yellow, with or without crimson or purple flecks.  Dark green leaves, linear to narrowly elliptic, with a thick, woolly indumentum below.  Found in pine forests, alpine meadows and on stony slopes from 10,000 to 14,000 ft. in SE Xizang, NW Yunnan and SW Sichuan, China.

1964/059  Greig:Wood  (-5\R2\3).  A fine, wide-leafed form of this slow-growing foliage plant.  The deep green glossy leaves are coated beneath with a thick and wooly, reddish brown indumentum.  White flowers in late spring.  One of the finest plants in the collection.  Best in very good drainage and light shade.

1974/116  GREI:UBC  (0).  Wide leaf form with white flowers and crimson flecks.

1974/117  Hillier:PHB  (0).  A narrow leaved form of R. roxieanum with an upright habit.

    1992/098  BRA:BERG  (0).  Wide leaf form.

  1997sd312  JN#267:RSBG  (-15\R2\3).  This is the “typical” form of this variable species, with leaves intermediate in width between the wide var. cucullatum and the very narrow var. oreonastes.  Grown from seed collected wild by Jens Nielsen at 13,600 ft. on the Beima Shan, NW Yunnan, China.

2000sd257  JN#1013:RSBG  (-15\R2\2).  Grown from seed collected wild by Jens Nielsen at 13,800 ft. in NW Yunnan.  These have thick and glossy oblanceolate leaves with a dense red-brown indumentum beneath.  The foliage is typical of the plant usually sold in the trade as ”globigerum.”  Very attractive.