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Chapters
Decaisnea - Growing Guide
Growing Information
A mature plant of this deciduous multi stemmed plant was first spotted by the author growing up against a wall in an Irish garden. It still had huge blue pea shaped seed pods hanging all over the shrub in early spring. A memorable sight.
This is a peculiar Chinese plant which ought to be far more widely grown for its flowers as well as its seed pods. It is fully hardy and will grow in sun or dappled shade in a fertile well drained soil. The pinnate leaves can be 2-3ft long so are easily damaged by exposure to wind. Although the protection of a wall may help this plant is perfectly happy freestanding where it will produce multiple stems to create a small clump.
The flowers appear in late May or June as drooping panicles from the ends of its young growths. The flower panicles can be up to 12-18in long and the flowers are an unusual mixture of yellow and green. Quite stunning as seen on several of our recent stands at Chelsea.
The blue seed pods are 4-6in long and appear in clusters. They are bright green when they first form turning blue by November with a nobbled warty surface. The seeds are easily grown in a cold frame and should be sown in the late autumn.
Collecting Decaisnea Seeds
Plants
