Daphnoides

Small trusses of purple flowers cover this unusual rhododendron in May in our garden.  The plant has very unusual leaves that are rolled over on the edges, so as to appear like some other type of plant like a Japanese privet, or some cultivar of camellia.  Rhododendron 'Daphnoides' is very hardy for colder areas of the country, but is not planted as much as it should be.