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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Hydrangeaceae (Mock-oranges) |
| Origin: Indonesia (Asia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Blue & White |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Synonyms: [Cianitis sylvatica] |
| Height: 4-6 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Light Shade/Part Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Dichroa febrifuga (Blue Evergreen Hydrangea) - A 3 to 7 foot tall by 5 foot wide, half-hardy evergreen shrub from the Hydrangea family. The 4 to 8 inch long dark green leaves resemble the foliage of Hydrangea with prominent veins and small serrations. The terminal end of the branches hold clusters of hydrangea-like flowers with white buds opening to bright blue flowers in spring and summer that are followed by metallic blue berries. As with the blue forms of Hydrangea the shade of blue of the flower is determined by soil pH (actually the availability of aluminum) and more acid soils produce bluer flowers. Plant in part sun to light shade with moderately moist soil. It is hardy and evergreen to 20-25 degrees F but defoliates much below these temperatures but plants knocked back by cold resprout from hard wood. Dichroa febrifuga is native to Nepal eastwards to southern China and into south-east Asia, where it grows at the forest edge. The specific epithet "febrifuga" is from the Latin words 'febris' meaning "fever" and 'fugare' meaning "to expel" in reference to this plant's use as a febrifuge, acting to reduce fever. Herbalists have for centuries used the roots containing the chemical halofuginone for this treatment and its use as such is reported in the Himalayas, Malaysia and China. Additionally the plant is reportedly cultivated in Russia as an anti-malarial herb. One common name we have seen for this plant is the Asian Hydrangea, but feel this a bit of a misnomer since the most common species of Hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla, often called the "French Hydrangea" is also from Asia (Korea & Japan). Our thanks to Dylan Hannon for giving us our first plant, which he originally received from the Strybing Arboretum. This plant has been growing very successfully in our main nursery garden in full morning sun since 1985. We offered this plant from 1995 until 2014 but have since discontinued growing it to make room for more xeric plants. We still really like it and may grow it again someday.
The information about Dichroa febrifuga displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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