Large evergreen shrubs or small trees with an upright, well-branched habit and beautiful exfoliating reddish to purple bark. The dark green leaves typically have a bristly petiole and are quite attractive against the colorful flowers and bark. The brilliant red to crimson or scarlet flowers (very early to mid-spring) are in a dense round inflorescence. Easy in cultivation and spectacular in a woodland setting. A widespread and common species in the Himalayas where it occurs in various habitats from 8,000 to 12,000 ft.