This wonderful species is native of the east Himalayas, west and central China, but also Taiwan, Java and Sumatra, showing therefore considerable variation over the wide range of its habitats.
It was introduced into England in the early 1900s.
This shrub or small tree can grow up to 7m.
The inflorescence is a slightly convex lacecap, up to 25 cm across: numerous small blue fertile flowers are surrounded by white to pink sterile flowers.
Stems and leaves are both hairy: the leaves vary in the range 5-35cm long, mostly lanceolate to ovate, dark green.
It withstands low temperatures up to –15°C, tolerates chalky soils and some drought, requires, in our climates, a bright but shady position.
All the varieties of this species are highly decorative and valuable to the gardener, expecially to those with above average planting space.