Rhododendron pruniflorum

Rhododendron pruniflorum, the plum-flowered rhododendron, is an open, often rather leggy shrub found in northern Myanmar and nearby parts of India at elevations up to 4000 m. Growing to 1-1.5 m, it occurs in coniferous woodlands that are dominated by species of fir (Abies). The aromatic leaves are often glaucous, and the undersides have a coating of fine, pale grey scales. As the name pruniflorum (plum-flowered) suggests, the small, waxy flowers are an unusual plum-purple-red shade, though they may also be mauve to pink. The heads of 3–10 small flowers open late, not until early summer at higher elevations.