Shrubs to 30 ft.  An extremely variable species now divided into two intergrading subspecies (ssp. maddenii and ssp. crassum) which are both comprised of several "former" species.  Large fragrant flowers (late spring to early summer) are extremely variable, usually white or white flushed various colors, cream, various shades of pink, or rarely yellow.   Seems to be heat resistant and many forms are relatively hardy.  Native to many different habitats from 5,000 to 12,000 ft.

     1965/360  Brodick  (H2-3).  Form with scented light pink flowers.

maddenii ssp. crassum

Large and open-growing (sometimes more compact) evergreen shrubs. An extremely variable and widespread species. The large funnel-shaped fragrant flowers (late spring to early summer) are quite variable in size and color, ranging from cream to pinkish or rarely yellow but typically white or white flushed various colors.  A beautiful and easily grown species with good heat tolerance and relative hardiness in certain forms. Requires excellent drainage.  Native to a wide variety of habitats from 5,000 to 12,000 ft. in China (Yunnan & SE Tibet), Upper Burma, NE India and Vietnam. One of my personal favorites. I successfully cultivate several clones in a sheltered corner of my garden (Seattle). I also grow this species in containers, these can be brought indoors when blooming to enjoy the magnificent fragrant flowers.

1964/066  WW  (H2-3).  Typical Maddenii with fragrant white flowers and one of those capable of surviving most NW winters and dry heat in summer.

1965/364  (odoriferum)  BROD  (+10\R2\8).  Fragrant white flowers flushed yellow in the throat.

1966/633 (“manipurense”)  Leonardslee (+10\R2\8). White flowers flushed yellow in the throat. 

1969/095  (crassum)  WIND  (+5 or +10?).  Plants formerly known as crassum grow to 20 ft., are native to China and Myanmar and have white flowers (sometimes flushed pink) with a yellow blotch.

1970/183  LAM  (+10\R2\8).  Fragrant white flushed yellow flowers.

1984/066  WOOD  (+10\R2\8).  Fragrant white flowers flushed yellow in the throat.

1996/027 ("chapaense")  KR#3116:Millais  (+10\R2\8).  Fantastic dark green and glossy foliage on this form collected in N Vietnam.  Should have large fragrant white flowers.  A different clone than offered last year.

1996/048 (“chapaense”)  KR#2978:Millais (+10\R2\8). Our first offering of this form collected by Keith Rushforth in N Vietnam. We have not bloomed these yet but the foliage is fantastically dark and glossy. 

1998sd485  CCHH#8217:RSBG  (+10\R2\8).  My own collection from 8,700 ft. on the famous Cang Shan in Yunnan Province, China.  Vigorous evergreen shrubs with glossy green leaves and fantastic large fragrant white flowers.  These are often flushed with pink and typically have a yellow throat.  Requires excellent drainage.  A personal favorite and one of the species I would not be without.  Pinching the new growth for the first couple of years results in a better-shaped plant.

maddenii ssp. maddenii

Large and open-growing (sometimes more compact) evergreen shrubs.  An extremely variable and widespread species.  The large funnel-shaped fragrant flowers (late spring to early summer) are quite variable in size and color, ranging from cream to pinkish or rarely yellow but typically white or white flushed various colors.  A beautiful and easily grown species with good heat tolerance and relative hardiness in certain forms.  Requires excellent drainage.  Native to a wide variety of habitats from 5,000 to 12,000 ft. in N India (W Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim), Bhutan and SE Tibet.  One of my personal favorites which I grow in containers which can be brought indoors when blooming to enjoy the magnificent fragrant flowers.

1964/115  (polyandrum)  LOG  (+15\R2\8).  Fragrant white flowers flushed yellow and pink.

1965/360  BROD  (+15\R2\8).  Flowers light pink and fragrant.

1968/109  (brachysiphon)  RBGE:BELL  (+5 or +10?\R2\8).  Plants formerly known as brachysiphon are native to Bhutan and tend to be slightly hardier with white flushed pink flowers.

1970/182  Lamellen  (+15).  Near relative of R. maddenii with four to five inch leaves crusted with gold-brown scales and light pink fragrant flowers.

1976/244  Brodick  (H2-3).

1977/701  Brodick  (+10).  Fragrant white flowers with a peach throat come in May on a relatively hardy Maddenia.

1978/109  (brachysiphon)  RBGE:BELL  (+5 or +10?).  Plants formerly known as brachysiphon are native to Bhutan and tend to be slightly hardier with white flushed pink flowers.

1979/014  PIE  (+15\R2\8).  Fragrant white flushed pink flowers.  This clone grown from seed collected wild in Sikkim.

1980/130  (brachysiphon)  TRG  (+25).

1984/054  (polyandrum)  KW#:BROA  (+15\R2\8).  Fragrant pink flowers.

1994/001  Enjoy (+15\R2\8). A form of this beautiful species from California known as the “Jack Evans form” with very large and fragrant white flowers.  Requires excellent drainage.  Perhaps our best clone.

1997sd585  SEH#599:RSBG  (+15\R2\8).  Large scaly leaves of a deep glossy green offset nicely the fantastic large and fragrant white flushed rose flowers in mid-spring.  My own collection from 5,550 ft. in the Sikkim Himalaya from plants with large white flushed pink flowers.    Cutting grown plants from the original seedlings.  Requires excellent drainage but quite easy and robust.  Rarely available wild source maddenii.

1997sd585  SEH#599:RSBG  (+15\R2\8).  Grown from my collection of seed at 5,550 ft. in the Sikkim Himalaya from plants with large white flushed pink flowers.  Rarely available wild source maddenii.