A Japanese plant breeder crossed our endangered Florida native Rhododendron chapmanii with the very hardy white flowered form of Rhododendron dauricum, a species native to eastern Asia.

This resulted in this lovely shrub with pinkish purple or lavender flowers in early spring. This is a very satisfactory, adaptable, and showy shrub that is cold hardy and heat tolerant.

It does not seem to be readily available from nurseries.