Rhododendron makinoi

This very hardy compact Japanese evergreen species is one of the best in the genus for foliage and this selected form has particularly narrow elegant leaves, emerging covered in a white to tawny-woolly indumentum, turing to a deep green, densely fawn-woolly beneath. Trusses of soft-pink bell-shaped flowers in June. A medium sized shrub at maturity, but approx' 1m tall after 10 years or so, for acid soil in semi-shade, or full sun in cooler regions. Holds an AGM from the RHS.