Rhododendron Strigillosum

Rhododendron strigillosum (芒刺杜鹃) is a rhododendron species native to Sichuan and Yunnan in China, where it grows at altitudes of 1,600–3,800 m (5,200–12,500 ft). It is an evergreen shrub growing to 2–5 m (6.6–16.4 ft) in height, with leathery leaves that are oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, 8–16 by 2.2–4 cm in size. The flowers are red or white. It flowers too early (March-April) to be reliable in climates with extensive frosts, and is therefore not often seen in general cultivation.