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.

1995sd218  PW#86:RSBG  (+10\R1\8).  Grown from seed collected on Mt. Arfak.