Rhododendron yongii Argent

Shrub to 3 m, predominantly terrestrial but occasionally epiphytic, young stems sparsely covered with pale brown scales. Leaves 6–11 × 2–5.5 cm, elliptic to broadly elliptic, the apex rounded to slightly retuse, the margin entire and broadly recurved, the base broadly tapering; the upper surface at first minutely scaly, quickly glabrescent and shiny, the midrib impressed above, the laterals 5–8 pairs, very slightly impressed; underside with the midrib very strongly raised, the laterals only slightly so, rather sparsely covered in pale brown, deeply lobed scales. Flowers 5–12 per umbel, semi-erect to half-hanging; calyx a shallowly 5-lobed scaly disc; corolla dark red, strongly curved, cylindrical or narrowly funnel-shaped, 2–3.2 × 1–2 cm, with a few scattered brown scales but numerous and more conspicuous white hairs outside; stamens 10, clustered on the upper side of the mouth; ovary densely white-hairy and scaly, the style glabrous. Royal Horticultural Society (1997)

Distribution  Malaysia Sabah and Northern Sarawak from Mt Kinabalu to Mt Mulu

Habitat 1,500–2,100 m

RHS Hardiness Rating H2

Conservation status Least concern (LC)