Rhododendron grande

R. grande is a small evergreen tree or large shrub, to 9m tall, with large, leathery leaves, up to 30cm long, dark green above and silvery-white, or covered in a dull, light brown down, beneath. Dense rounded trusses of bell-shaped, cream to pale yellow flowers, each with a purple basal blotch, open from pink buds, in late winter to mid spring