Description
Dictamnus – Burning Bush –
There is a single species of a woody based perennial, in this genus. It native to open woodland, dry grassland, and rocky sites, in Central and Southern Europe, and from Southern and Central Asia to China and Korea. It has pinnate, ash like, alternate leaves, each with 3-6 pairs of leaflets and a single terminal one. It bears 5 petalled, asymmetrical flowers, with long, projecting stamens, in long open racemes. They and the unripe fruit, produce a volatile oil, which may ignite in hot windless weather. It’s suitable for a border. It foliage, roots, and seeds may cause photodermatitis.
Grow in any dry, well drained, moderately fertile soil, in full sun or partial shade. Dislikes disturbance.
D. albus – D. fraxinella – Dittany – Gas Plant – This herbaceous, woody based, clump forming perennial found from Central and Southern Europe to Northern China and Korea grows 16-36″ tall and 24-36″ wide. It produces pinnate, leathery, glossy, lemon scented, light green leaves, to 14″ long, with lance shaped to ovate leaflets. In early summer it bears white or pinkish white star shaped flowers, to 1″ across, with darker veins and long stamens.
Zones 3-8
