Large shrub to 6 m or so tall with hairy red shoots. Leaves ovate-oblong, 10-15 cm long, 5-10 cm wide, soft-hairy below. Flower clusters globose, to 15-20 cm wide, pink, resembling the flower heads of hydrangeas, sweetly fragrant. Flowers about 3 cm wide with narrow tubes about 3 cm long.

Himalaya

Available cultivars include 'Early Dawn' and 'Rosea'.

 

L. grandifolia Ghose from Bhutan is available, sometimes as the cultivar 'Temptation' [L. tsetensis hort.], while L. pinceana Hook. is available as 'Fragrant Cloud'.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Rubiaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.