Quackin Grass Nursery

Dichroa febrifuga "UBC Form" - Light pink flowers occur on this Hydrangea relative. Dan Hinkley reports that the flower color in its native haunts is very variable - from white to light pink to deep blue. The starry florets from clustered buds float above foliage on stem tips. They are lovely but the very persistent fruit display is spectacular. Though also color varied in the wilds this form displays stunning deep porcelain blue constellations carried upon reddish pink to lavender pink stems. And the fruit which matures in autumn holds through the winter into the following spring! Flowers arise from second year wood. The glossy alternate leaves with a touch of pink in the veins superficially resemble those of Hydrangea serrata. In fact, there is on-going hybridizing work between Hydrangea macrophylla and Dichroa febrifuga which projects greater flowers coupled with more persistent fruit. I can hardly wait! This form was collected some years back in Guizhou, China by Peter Wharton, former curator from the University of British Columbia's David C. Lam Asian Garden. This info comes from Dan Hinkley's The Explorer's Garden, Shrubs and Vines - a worthy text to have in ones collection. Where it can be grown outdoors site Dichroa febrifuga in dappled sun to open shade, plant in fertile moisture-retentive organic soil. Handsome with multiple seasons of interest this fantastic shrub would make a worthy candidate for the cool greenhouse or conservatory. Established potted shrub, cutting grown.