This beautiful, blue-flowered rhododendron has been repeatedly planted at Harewood since the 1930s and is a joy to see in spring, especially when the blooms stand out in contrast with other rhododendrons flowering in white, yellow or pink.

The individual flowers are star-shaped and have long stamens resembling ‘cat’s whiskers’, which protrude beyond the petals.

It was discovered in China by Augustine Henry in 1886 whilst exploring in Hupeh when he was working as a Medical Officer at the Chinese Customs.

This species belongs to a specific section of rhododendrons called Lepidotes, because they have tiny scales on their leaves and flowers (lepidote = covered in small scales).