Rhododendron nuttallii ex N. Vietnam

This geographic form is much hardier than those found to the north in China and the Himalaya, with much larger leaves and can be grown in a sheltered spot in much of the UK, though excellent anywhere as a pot plant overwintered under cover. One of the most spectacular species, with huge funnel shaped richly-scented flowers, white flushed yellow within, in trusses of 3 to 9 in April-May, each flower up to 13cm long. Bark is a splendid deep-mahogany on a medium sized evergreen shrub. Foliage emerges crimson-purple and turns dark-green above and pale glaucous beneath.