The Latin specific name florida refers to the floweriness of this shrub, and has nothing to do with its native habitat, in fact this species grows naturally in East Asia. The abundant flowers are rose-red, standing out against their background of bright green leaves, which are slightly red on opening. In warm summers flowering may continue late into the autumn.
As well as the beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers in summer, the shrub offers a show in winter too, when the seed pods open, paler inside than out, attracting tits to feed throughout the winter.
At Mustila the species thrives both in Alppiruusulaakso (Rhododendron Valley) and on Etelärinne (Southern Slope). Wild provenances from the cold mountains of Manchuria and Central Korea seem hardier than the plants originating from Dutch nurseries.
The shrub grows wider than high, so needs plenty of room. It tolerates a degree of shadiness but flowers best in full light.
