Hollard Gardens

Family: Ericaceae (Heath)

Comments: Habit: Upright open habit. 2-4m tall.
Bark: Attractive peeling russet bark.
Foliage: Large, slightly bullate leaves, purple -red when young becoming dark green, greyish below and dark scaled.
Flowers: Large flat topped umbels of white funnels, 4-8, from purple pink buds, pink flushed outside and with large yellow throat. Strongly fragrant. November flowering.
History: Breeder not known but possibly Edgar Stead as it was an early introduction at Tupare Garden, New Plymouth and Russell Matthews through the NZ Rhododendron Association would have had access to such material.