Large rounded evergreen shrubs with pale tomentose branches. The dark and shiny leaves have a woolly whitish to fawn indumentum on their undersides. The flowers emerge from the most amazing-looking large buds in early spring. The fuzzy overlapping scales of the buds give the appearance of some strange small pineapple and provide a great show as they open to reveal a large rounded inflorescence of brightly colored flowers. The flowers range in color from pink to red or crimson and have darker nectar pouches. This species is known only from Pemako in SE Tibet and adjacent NE India where it occurs in forests from 8,500 to 11,000 ft. It requires light shade to avoid sun scorch on the foliage.