Kolkwitzia amabilis var. calicina Pampanini; K. amabilis var. tomentosa Pampanini.

Shrubs, erect, to 3 m tall. Branchlets hirsute, becoming glabrous. Petiole 1-2 mm; leaf blade elliptic to ovate, 3-8 × 1.5-2.5 cm, both surfaces sparsely pubescent, densely spreading pubescent and ciliate on veins and margin, base rounded or broadly cuneate, margin entire, rarely shallowly dentate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence paniculate; flowers single or paired (flowers opening consecutively) in same inflorescence; peduncle 10-15 mm; bracts lanceolate, tightly adnate to base of ovary. Sepals 5, lanceolate, to 5 mm, pubescent. Corolla whitish, tinged pink, 15-25 mm, outside pubescent, base very narrow, abruptly enlarged above middle; lower lip 3-lobed, bearded, with orange reticulate markings; upper lip 2-lobed. Ovary bottle-shaped with a long neck; style pubescent; stigmas capitate, inserted. Achenes embedded in spongy, woody, and bristly bracts, apex elongated, crowned with persistent, non-accrescent sepals. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 32*.

This species is rare in the wild but widely cultivated.

● Mountain slopes, roadsides, scrub; 300-1300 m. Anhui, Gansu, ?Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Shanxi.