An upright-growing but compact evergreen shrub with smooth and peeling reddish-brown to purplish bark.The distinct and interesting smooth green leaves are arranged in the whorles around the branch tips, each leaf seeming to clasp the stem due to the very short petiole.The tubular-bell-shaped flowers (early spring) are crimson to scarlet with darker nectar pouches.This rarely cultivated species is prone to powdery mildew but is never defoliated here at the RSBG, even with little or no fungal control.It can also be a little sparse in its floral display, but makes up a bit for these shortcomings with its distinctive appearance and beautiful bark.Native to the mountains of Bhutan and adjacent western Arunachal Pradesh, India where it occurs in forests from 11,000 to 13,500 ft.
1973/316KW#13666:Nylans(+5).Relative recent introduction and described species of compact growth with rounded bright lime-green two-inch leaves turned down at the edges and tight trusses of red flowers suggesting an affinity with R. fulgens.
1975/079L&H#21295:Wakehurst(-5\R3\3).A different collection of this species, which with age not only yields the dividend of flowers, but almost muted red-purple peeling bark.Red flowers.
