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Background

​​Native to the Himalayas, central China, and Taiwan. Introduced to western cultivation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by plant hunters like Ernest Wilson. Historic varieties include H. aspera ssp. sargentiana and H. aspera ssp. strigosa.

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Its natural habitat is in mountain woodlands thriving where light filters through the upper canopy.

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Breeding and selection has largely occurred in private gardens and botanic institutions rather than commercial mass-market breeding. Key varieties include 'Macrophylla', 'Peter Chappell', and most recently .'Hot Chocolate' named for its dark chocolate-coloured foliage (bred by Maurice Foster in the UK)

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Cultivation

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• Position & Soil: Requires shelter from strong winds to protect large, velvety leaves. Prefers partial to full shade in moist, humus-rich soil

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• Pruning: Requires almost no pruning except for removing deadwood or lightly shaping in spring.

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• Colour Note: Soil pH does not alter bloom colour.

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• Propagation: Propagated via semi-ripe nodal cuttings taken in late summer or air-layering lower branches.​​​​