Pukeiti

Family: Ericaceae (Heath)

Life form: Tree - evergreen

Comments: Foliage: As young plants they have impressive dark green leaves up to 70cm long, with silvery-fawn undersides after a few years.
Flowers: Deep pink buds open to trusses of 22-25 bright pink flowers with a red stigma-style. As the flowers age they fade to a rich cream with a wide pink band around the carolla edge. Flowering is in early spring, September, and the flowers last for at least a month.
History: This was a deliberate cross by Graham Smith, at Pukeiti, to assess the likely parents of some plants grown at Pukeiti from seed. The best yellow R. macabeanum was chosen to cross with the deepest purple-pink R. magnificum. Currently unregistered, it is named after the long serving secretary af Pukeiti who did so much to help build the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust he was passionate about, without ever knowing anything about plants.
Not readily available in New Zealand.