Upright and stout-branched large evergreen shrubs or small trees. The leaves have a thin brownish indumentum on the lower surface. The pale yellow to yellow flowers (mid-spring) are in a large round inflorescence and often have a large reddish blotch in the throat. The beautiful and attractive foliage combine to make this one of the most popular and highly sought after species. Rarely available, it is rather slow-growing and difficult in cultivation, requiring shade from the hot afternoon sun and a cool, acidic and extremely well-drained soil. Native to west-central & NE Yunnan, China where it occurs in various montane habitats from 10,000 to 13,000 ft.
1964/141 COR (0). Rounded trusses of yellow flowers spotted red. This clone pictured and praised in the 1965 RHS Yearbook.
1975/111 Windsor (0). Cream yellow.
1975/125 RBG (0). Form with clear yellow flowers.
1976/101 G. Van Winkle (0).
1995sd141 RSBG (-5\R3\2-3). Choice slow-growing species with yellow flowers (mid-spring) in a large round inflorescence, often with a reddish blotch. Seedlings from a hand-pollinated cross here at the RSBG. These are nice-looking plants from 75/175 (RSBG form – pale yellow with a small carmine blotch) x 76/101 (pure yellow with a faint blotch).
1995sd143 RSBG (-5\R3\2-3). Seedlings from a hand-polinated cross here at the RSBG. These are nice-looking plants from 75/125 (RBGE from – pale yellow with a small carmine blotch) x 64/141 (Corsock from – pale yellow with crimson spots).
1997sd486 BH#150:Berg (-5\R3\2-3). Nice large seedlings grown from seed collected wild in NW Yunnan, China. Rarely offered wild-collected lacteum!. A real opportunity for the collector.
1998sd503 CCHH#8238:RSBG (-5\R3\2-3). A famous species with great foliage and stunning creamy yellow flowers in a large rounded inflorescence. Large rounded leaves with a thin brown indumentum. Very slow growing and requires shade and excellent drainage. These are grown from my collection of seed at 12,150 ft. on the Cang Shan of Yunnan, China.
