Shrubs or small trees, 3–6 m tall; branches many; young shoots brownish scaly. Petiole grooved, 5–10 mm; leaf blade leathery, lanceolate, oblong-oblanceolate, or elliptic, 5–15(–18) × 2–8 cm; base cuneate; apex acute or obtuse; abaxial surface scales dense, reddish brown; adaxial surface scales present in young leaves, glabrescent. Inflorescence 3–5-flowered. Flowers fragrant. Pedicel 1.3–1.5 cm; calyx lobes 3–5 mm, orbicular or oblong, scaly; corolla funnelform, white, (3.5–)6–8.5(–10) cm; tube (20–)30–50(–60) mm; outer surface scaly; stamens 15–25, filaments glabrous or pubescent; ovary 10–12-locular; style exserted, upper 1/3 with scales; stigma large, discoid. Capsule ovoid or ellipsoid, 10–35 × 10–15 mm. Fr. Aug.

Forests, Tsuga-Rhododendron thickets, scrub, river valleys; (1500–)2600–3200 m. S Xizang, N and W Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, NE Myanmar, Sikkim, Thailand, N Vietnam].