Decaisnea fargesii

Decaisnea is a very attractive and rare small tree from China. It is cultivated for its beautiful, exotic looking foliage, and coloured seed pods. It produces multiple of thin, upright trunks which bear leaves usually at the tops, just like aralias.

The deciduous leaves are elegant, light to mid green, pinnate and rather large – up to 90 cm long. Greenish-yellow flowers appear in early summer and are composed in pendent panicles. In autumn they are followed by conspicuous, dark blue or blue-grey seed pods. Thanks to their shape and colour this plant has another name: dead man’s fingers. Would you believe then that the seeds are edible? I suppose that one loses the will to taste them knowing the plant’s name …

Grow decaisnea in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, and sheltered from strong, drying winds. Hardy to about -23°C (USDA zone 6).

Last update 13-02-2009.