Pukeiti

Family: Ericaceae (Heath)

Synonym: Rhododendron protistum var. giganteum, Rhododendron protistum var. protistum

Distribution: China (west); Myanmar (north east)

IUCN Red list: Near threatened

Life form: Tree - evergreen

Comments: Habit: Very large shrub or small tree with heavy wide-spreading branches. In cultivation it can be up to 18m in diameter.
Foliage: Huge thin oval to eliptic leaves, especially large in juvenile plants, up to 75cm long and without indumentum. As plant ages and reaches flowering (approximately 25 years), the new leaves become smaller and develop a thin marginal band of indumentum, which spreads across the undersurface with each set of new leaves until entirely covered. New growth is dramatically attractive as the red bud scales peel back from silvery spears of new leaves. The leaves gradually green as they expand.
Flowers: Beautiful large racemose umbels of 20 - 30 large, waxy pink flowers. The best forms are rich pink to crimson-purple but some fade to a two tone effect with a darker throat. It can take 30 years for a seedling to reach flowering age but it is also very long lived when conditions are right.
Cultivation information: Because it flowers and comes into its new growth very early in the year (July - August in the Southern Hemisphere) it is highly susceptible to frost and cold damage. High tree cover and shelter from wind is essential to grow this magnificent species in all but the most benign climates.
Further information: Variety R. protistum var. giganteum is no longer distinguished as a separate variety all features can be present depending on age of the plant.