R. lutescens

This attractive foliage rhododendron has lovely canary-yellow flowers, but the real show is the red new growth that appears in April and May, after the flowers have dropped. Eye catching, narrow red leaves light up when backlit, adding interest to any garden. The canary yellow flowers appear in March with small trusses of 5-7 flowers with green spotting. This rhododendron species is hardy to 5 deg F, so will make it in most locations. R. lutescens will be 6-8 ft tall in 10 years. The name means 'Becoming yellow'. Native to China.