Irroratum Rhododendron                 rho-do-DEN-dron ni-VE-um

• Broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree, 5 ft (1.5 m) tall in 10 years, finally to about 30 ft (9 m), upright, open, tree-like and often rather leggy.  Leaves alternate, simple, oblong-lanceolate to elliptic, 7-14 cm long, about 3.5 times longer than broad, above pale green and glabrous when mature, some hairs on veins below.  Flowers white or cream to violet-pink with green or purple spots, 3.5-5 cm long, tubular bell-shaped, in clusters with up to 15 flowers.
• -0^o F, early-early-mid; quality rating: 3-4/3-4/3-4 [flower / plant & foliage / performance; scale 1 (poor) - 5 (best)].
• Native to China (Yunnan, Szechwan, 9,000-11,000 ft elevation).  The species is variable and in the wild is divided into 3 subspecies, only R. irroratum var. irroratum is in cultivation (RHS Dictionary of Gardening).  R. irroratum ‘Poka Dot’ is probably the most common cultivar, but it is not generally available.