Rhododendron praevernum

An early flowering hardy evergreen Chinese species making a medium-sized shrub. White to white-flushed-rose-pink bell-shaped flowers, each with a red-purple internal blotch, borne 8 to 15 per truss from Feb to April, depending on location. Mid-green foliage is elliptic to oblanceolate. For moist but well drained acid soil in semi-shade. Rarely available for sale in the UK.