Pukeiti

Family: Ericaceae (Heath)

Life form: Shrub - evergreen

Comments: Habit: A large vigorous shrub to small tree, compact, sturdy growth to 4m x 6m (although some sources say only 1.8m) and more in time.
Foliage: Attractive large oblong leaves, dark glossy green above, silver below though white hair cover when new.
Flowers: Early to mid season. Cream flowers suffused with greenish yellow and a faint crimson blotch in throat. Cream stamens. Large umbels of 20-22 bell-shaped flowers, creamy from yellow buds, with small red eye. Very freely produced, even from a young age.
History: Cross made by Mrs I McKenzie and raised by J Joyce at Centrewood, Waimate. Named by Winifred Hayes at Centrewood in 1975.
Further information: Available at rhododendron nurseries in New Zealand.