bearded rhododendron

R. barbatum is a spreading evergreen shrub or small tree, to 8m tall, with attractive red-purple peeling bark on older stems, leaf-stalks and young stems are covered in stiff hairs. Leaves are glossy and dark-green, up to 20cm long, with heavily-impressed veins on the upper surfaces. Tubular to bell-shaped, deep crimson to scarlet-red flowers are borne in early spring in dense, rounded heads