Large upright evergreen shrubs with completely smooth stems and leaves (no indumentum or scales).The new growth emerges bronze-red before ripening to dark green foliage which is leathery and shiny.The fragrant pink to lavender flowers (mid-spring) are clustered at the ends of the branches and are usually spotted.They are widely funnel-shaped and similar in appearance to those of an azalea.This is a rarely offered (or cultivated) member of a very distinct group of species.This species is native from 1,600 to 6,000 ft. over a wide area of S China and into Japan.
1965/428(syn. wilsoniae)WAK(0).Delicately scented pastel rose-purple flowers with yellow-brown flecks.
1995sd218PW#86:RSBG(+10\R1\8).Grown from seed collected on Mt.Arfak.