Decaisnea fargesii |
Origin: China
Zone Range: 5-8
Preferred Situation: Full to semi sun; well draining evenly moist reasonably fertile soil.
Harvest Date: Thursday 02 November, 2006
Description:
A broad bushy multistemmed shrub with arching branches. In Spring, purple coloured foliage unfurls into dark green pinnate leaves with the main leaf stem reaching 1 meter in length. Nodding yellow green clematis like flowers hang in loose clusters in 45 cm long appear in early summer to give way to blue sausage like fruit clusters. An exotic looking shrub to 4 meters in height and spread.
Notes:
Fast growing tree. Needs sheltered from cold winds when leafing up in Spring. In Autumn, heavy clusters of 12-15 cm plump sausage like bright slate/sky blue pebbly textured fruit are very dramatic . Sometimes called 'Dead Man's Fingers' its the perfect touch to add to morbid halloween displays. Self fertile. Deemed edible, but after cleaning the black glistening seed from the gelatinous goo...yuck.
Cultivation:
Easy to germinate. Soak seed 24 hours. Sow 6 mm deep. Tamp firm. Cold stratify 30-60 days then expose to 20 C for germination. I've had this exceptional seed germination within 30 days after the 24 hour water soak without cold stratification. Protect seedlings from nibbling vermin.
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