Pink Escallonia           es-ka-LON-ee-a LIE-vis

• Broadleaf evergreen shrub, erect, often 5-6.5 ft (1.5-2 m) tall but may be double that.  Leaves narrow obovate to oval, 5-7 cm, base triangular, margin finely toothed, often red tinged, dark green above, pale below.  Flowers pink to white, dark pink in bud, in short terminal clusters 5-7 cm long, held just above the leaves.
• Sun.  Some say tolerates maritime exposure, but Sunset Western Garden Book (2001, p. 336, Brenzel, ed.) states that, "Leaves burn in seacost wind and salt as well as in high heat".  Reportedly sensitive to root disturbances.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 8     Native to Brazil.
• laevis: smooth, the leaves.