Bluebell bush

Profile

Family

Lardizabalaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

4.5 m

Spread

4 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

50 years

First yield

after 5 years

Hardiness

zone 5–8

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very wet

pH

6 – 7.5

Synonyms

Blaugurke, Blaugurkenbaum, Blauschotenbaum

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruit (raw) sweet jelly, melon-like - bland. The fruit tastes sweet and reminiscent of melon, but lacks intensity.

Other uses: Pod skin is inedible, containing latex, and functions as an ornamental object with blue fruits and yellow autumn leaves.

Growing

An easily cultivated plant that grows well in various soil types, preferring nutrient-rich, moist loam and a sunny location shielded from cold winds. It can also thrive in partial shade. While very resilient, late frosts may harm the flowers and young shoots in spring. Blooms emerge in spring on the ends of fresh upright stems. It takes a couple of years for the plants to produce fruit. They are quite decorative, growing relatively fast, but may look thin and sparse in winter. Typically, they do not need pruning. In recent botanical classifications, this species is now often considered just a synonym of D. insignis.

Propagation

Seeds should be sown right after they ripen in a cool environment, where they typically sprout easily in spring. If storing seeds, plant them in a greenhouse in February. They usually sprout well within 1-3 months at 18°C. Once seedlings are big enough, transfer them to separate pots and keep them sheltered during the initial winter. Plant them outdoors in late spring, following the final frosts.

Notable

Special features: only shrub in the plant family; plant in a sheltered location; grows naturally in China in humid gorges at an altitude of 900-3600m; easy to propagate by seed; pollinators are flies and hymenoptera. The shrub/fruit certainly serves more than this, but this is still unknown.... Propagation: root cuttings;

Origin & habitat

East Asia - Western China

An undergrowth shrub found in forests, typically in temperate deciduous forests between 600 and 1000 meters above sea level.

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