This shrub from northern China is closely related to obtusifolium and may be combined as var. suave (Kitagawa) H. Hara. It is less hairy, and has shorter corolla tubes (W). Colls. have been provisionally identified from BARR (WKY), CART (MDKY), WARR (WKY), WAYN (MM for WKY) and elsewhere. However, CW did not verify any naturalized plants in Ky. More careful review of colls. is needed.