Skill Level: Intermediate (germination) Advanced (Growing on)
Dichroa febrifuga—a hydrangea relative from the misty forests of China and the eastern Himalayas—is one of those rare shrubs that makes the heart pitter-patter. D. febrifuga shares the same acid-sensitive palette of hydrangeas but shows intrafloral variation rather than the entire plant. Add aluminum sulfate to the soil to make flower insides a deeper bluer or add lime to the soil to make the flower insides lighter blue. Then in the fall, it is covered with clusters of metallic, electric blue berries that persist well into the following spring.
Mature plants reach 3–6 ft., mimicking a hydrangea’s silhouette. There appears to be sub-species variation in leaf shape. It prefers part shade with moist, humus rich, well drained soils, and is hardy to roughly USDA Zone 7. In mild climates it is evergreen; in cooler gardens it may behave as semi evergreen.
Our Seed Germination Experience
The seeds are extremely fine—truly dust-like—and respond best to a surface sow technique: sow on the surface of a firmed, moist medium, avoid covering, and maintain steady humidity. Our seed freshly harvested in February germinated 20 days later at room temperature. We have not tested long term storage, but given the fineness of the seed, we suspect viability is short lived and that fresh seed performs best.
Seedlings are tiny and slow at first, requiring careful watering and bright, indirect light. Growing them will be the true challenge. We expect with good care, our seedling should produce flowers within the 4 years. This has yet to be tested.
Photo: heronsheadnursery.com and plants.ces.ncsu.edu
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