Medium growing evergreen shrubs with densely tomentose branchlets. The elliptic to obovate leaves have a thick texture and are covered on the lower surface with a thickish gray to brown or reddish brown indumentum. The flowers (mid-spring are cram to pale yellow or white with red spots. A striking foliage plant with lovely flowers. Rarely seen in gardens due to difficulties of propagation and cultivation. Best in a cool but bright position with well-drained organic soil. Native to the eastern Himalayas where it occurs in various habitats from 10,000 to 14,000 ft.
1977/695 (flinckii) Brodick (0).
1979/176 WEB (0). Wild collected form from Sikkim.
1999sd136 RSBG (-5\R3\3). These are vigorous large seedlings grown from a hand-pollinated cross here at the RSBG. The cross was between two unusual clones – 1976/323 – an intermediary form between lanatum and tsariense x 1975/112 (KW#13750) – which is close to flinckii. Mostly with reddish brown indumentum.
