Native to eastern Asia, particularly China, and introduced to Western horticulture in the mid-1800s, this hybrid is now naturalized and cultivated in various regions including the southeastern United States, parts of Europe such as France and Italy, and temperate areas of South America. It is a dense, semi-evergreen shrub that typically reaches between 3 and 8 feet in height and width, forming a compact, rounded habit with a tendency to arch gracefully under the weight of its abundant flowers. It was created as a deliberate cross between two East Asian species—one from China and the other from Japan. The Royal Horticultural Society later granted it the Award of Garden Merit for its reliable performance and decorative value. Commonly used in mixed borders, mass plantings, and informal hedges, it is prized for its extended blooming season which can last from late spring to frost in warm climates. The flowers are tubular and are borne in terminal clusters and often appear in such profusion that they obscure the foliage. Individual corollas are five-lobed, slightly reflexed, and usually white to pale pink with a subtle blush or lavender tinge near the throat, depending on cultivar. They are surrounded by reddish to bronze-colored sepals that persist after petal drop, giving the plant ornamental interest even after peak bloom. The flowers are mildly fragrant and numerous cultivars have been developed, including 'Kaleidoscope', known for its variegated foliage and compact form; 'Edward Goucher', a more vigorous selection with lavender-pink blooms; and 'Rose Creek', which displays early and consistent flowering. In some areas of the southeastern United States, particularly in Florida and parts of the Gulf Coast, it has shown signs of escaping cultivation and becoming mildly invasive in disturbed woodlands and along roadsides. The plant responds well to light pruning, and because flowering occurs on new wood, pruning in late winter or early spring can enhance floral display. Photographed in Virgina and Bogotá, Colombia.