Description
Upright-growing, deciduous shrubs with obovate hairy leaves. The exquisite flowers (early to mid-spring) are rose to rose-purple, generally appearing before the newly emerging foliage. A choice and hardy azalea, perfect in the woodland garden but, unfortunately, rarely seen in cultivation. Brilliant fall foliage color. Native to Japan (C Honshu to C Hokkaido) where it occurs between 3,000 and 4,000 ft. in various subalpine habitats.