First of all, year one resulted in my Dichroa Febrifuga being a perennial. I am hopeful as time goes on & it fully establishes itself it'...Read Morell be like a Crepe-myrtle & have above-ground survival.
This first Winter for my Dichroa: 2015 into 2016, did go sub-zero(F) on several occasions.
But it all began:
In April 2015 I planted my "Hagiwara-Hardy"? -It was a hardier form from Japan bought through "Nurseries Caroliniana" & known to have endured more cold than the typical Dichroa in the USA. I believe this variety is known to produce blue flowers instead of pink; as is the case with the "UBC form".
Holding onto some above-ground growth into 2016, it had had severe damage to the highest (& therefore youngest) leaves when cold came in the Fall of 2015, freezing etc. But by March it was only dry sticks above-ground......but in pulling back the old maple leaves mulched around it I saw a very healthy stump & fattening leaf buds on the thicker roots.
Now, in May 2016, about a dozen little branches have come up from those roots & stump, producing lush leaves already about 4 or 5 inches above the ground. I'm confident this Hydrangea-family member will in time grow robust & produce flushes of growth with enough time to harden-off before Autumn cold returns, although there -may- be always some dieback. The leaves remind me of some of the cold-hardy Impatiens.....so perhaps Dichroa would be a good companion plant for them: Impatiens Sichuan Gold, I. Arguta(purple flowers would make it a really good companion.) They also both like leaf-littered shaded ground.
So, yes, in spite of some setbacks I would recommend growing Dichroa Febrifuga
Purchased this plant because it was labeled for full shade. I've found that in full shade, it's a bit weak and has had few blooms. I'm tr...Read Moreansplanting it this spring to a part-shade location and hope it will succeed.
Mine was grown from a cutting from a plant purchased from the late lamented Heronswood Nursery. It gets dappled morning sun, filtered aft...Read Moreernoon sun. Because it is planted near the foundation of my house, its flowers were pink rather than blue, but a little aluminum sulfate fixed that problem in one season. It sometimes suffers from a little frost damage (on Bainbridge Island, Washington) but comes right back. I root layered a cutting for a friend over the winter, and hers is doing fine. Love the leaf color, blue flowers, and bright blue berries. I have it near some Sarcacocca, an Actea that gets white berries on red stems in the fall, and a Kerria that has double yellow flowers in spring. It is a great compliment to all.
This beautiful plant is a traditional Chinese medicinal. It is an emetic, purgative, feverfuge, expectorant and antimalarial but since it...Read More causes nausea and/or vomiting as a side effect and may have some toxicity it is best used as a last resort or emergency medicine.
It needs loose, loamy, moist soil to thrive and seems to prefer areas with high humidity and light shade.
Best bloom color is achieved with acid soil, so if your soil isn't acid, use an acid plant food or water with acidified water.
I planted this plant last year. It hasnt grown but about7inches. the leaves look like they have rust on them. I'm disappointed with the...Read More lack of growth. Don't know why it hasn't grown. I fertilized with miracle grow. still not growing. hydrangeas are everywhere in this area. My daughters hasnt grown either. She did get one flower. hers has rusty looking leaves also. she lives about 3 miles frm me.
Planted Summer of 2001 in small north facing city garden in San Francisco. It gets intense sun morning and early afternoon then plunged ...Read Moreinto deep shade from 2pm on. No diseases or pests, always beautiful lush foliage and light blue blooms June-August. Difficult to find in local nurseries but a great plant.
planted in summer of 2002. survived 8 degree temp. this winter with no damage. Flowers started to appear in mid may and buds are opening ...Read Morenow in early June. Plant gets morning sun but protected from hot afternoon sun. It is about 2' high by 3' wide.
First of all, year one resulted in my Dichroa Febrifuga being a perennial. I am hopeful as time goes on & it fully establishes itself it'...Read More
Very pretty flower clusters, evergreen leaves, thriving in droughty shade in north central Florida in the southernmost portion of 8b.
I have just bought this amazingly beautiful plant in full 'berry' at Portland Nursery. I am going to plant it in morning sun.
Purchased this plant because it was labeled for full shade. I've found that in full shade, it's a bit weak and has had few blooms. I'm tr...Read More
Mine was grown from a cutting from a plant purchased from the late lamented Heronswood Nursery. It gets dappled morning sun, filtered aft...Read More
This beautiful plant is a traditional Chinese medicinal. It is an emetic, purgative, feverfuge, expectorant and antimalarial but since it...Read More
I planted this plant last year. It hasnt grown but about7inches. the leaves look like they have rust on them. I'm disappointed with the...Read More
Planted Summer of 2001 in small north facing city garden in San Francisco. It gets intense sun morning and early afternoon then plunged ...Read More
planted in summer of 2002. survived 8 degree temp. this winter with no damage. Flowers started to appear in mid may and buds are opening ...Read More