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 1600-3800 m. It is an evergreen shrub growing to 2-5 m 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.