Authors:
(syn.Rhododendron and Rhodothamnus leachianus). Bushy, somewhat tufted habit usually under 15cm high by 30cm across but sometimes less, and up to 30cm high in the wild. Leaves fairly crowded, oval to slightly obovate, 6-20mm long, deep green above and glistening glandular scaly beneath. Flowers in shades of rose-red to purplish-red, bell-shaped, to 1.5cm across, with five spreading petal lobes, in terminal and axillary clusters, spring. Siskiyou Mountains and a few other mountains sites in Oregon; local and rare, often on open slopes. Discovered as recently as 1930. Very close to Rhodothamnus, so close in fact that it could easily be placed in that genus, but with some slight resemblance to Kalmia. Easily grown in acid soil in sun or light shade, but often not long-lived. K. l. Umpqua Valley', is shorter and more compact.
