Description

Dichroa is a most hardy but not well known evergreen blue flowering relative to the hydrangea. It flowers more prolifically in full sun to light shade than normal hydrangeas which will scorch and wilt. It blooms in spring with startling indigo blue flowers and electric blue fruit in autumn. It grows equally well in either moist or dry garden environments and is also quite suitable for container growing. Planted along driveways and large garden pathways in rows, it makes a lovely loose shaped and colourful hedge growing to height and width of up to 1.8 metres. More information can be found out about it under Chinese herb information bases. More suitable for temperate and cool climates, but may also grow quite well in sub-tropical location if given some light shade.

Cultivation

Choose an open, sunny to lightly shaded position with moist but free draining soil that is organically rich. Prepare the planting site by digging over the soil and adding a good handful of blood and bone or rich compost prior to planting out. Water in well at planting time and then on an occasional basis to promote growth. No major pests or diseases but protect them from snails and slugs.