Similarly, Ginkgo biloba, the Maidenhair tree, is the last remaining species of a genus found in the fossil record around the world. This accounts for the ‘living fossils’ such as Metasequioa glyptostroboides, the Dawn Redwood, described as a species from fossils of the Mesozoic Era in 1941 and discovered as a living plant in China in the same year (although the connection was not made until 1946). Some species which would once have been found across the northern hemisphere were wiped out elsewhere, surviving only in China. Where does this biodiversity come from? One important factor was the relative lack of glaciation in China during the last major ice age. With a similar land area to the USA, China has about twice as many plant species – 31000. In his 1929 book “China, Mother of Gardens”, Wilson wrote about collecting some 3500 species in China alone, of which about 1800 were new introductions to the West.Ĭhina is second only to Brazil in the number of native plant species and its botanical diversity is unparalleled amongst temperate countries. Probably every worthwhile plant in China has now been introduced to Europe,” he was advised by his employers. “Stick to the one thing you are after and don’t spend time and money wandering about. He was looking for Davidia involucrata, the fabled Dove Tree, discovered by Père Armand David in 1869. In 1899, the plant hunter Ernest Wilson set out on his first plant hunting expedition to China for James Veitch and Sons nursery. Posted on OctoOctoCategories Japanese gardens and plants, Plants Tags Chinese gardens, Gardening, Gardens, Japanese gardens, Plants Leave a comment on Plant Profile: Deinanthe The Mother Of Gardens Propagation is by seed, when produced, or more reliably by division in spring.
caerulea European Form, which has pale blue flowers. There is also a hybrid between the two species, sometimes known incorrectly as D.
It is sometimes sold under the trade name ‘Blue Wonder’. The flowers are a remarkable waxy purplish blue. bifida, it is even less tolerant of summer drought. Deinanthe caeruleaĭeinanthe caerulea is a Chinese species, native to Hubei, introduced by E.H. The hydrangea-like leaves are split at the end rather attractively. It is slightly larger and easier to grow than Deinanthe caerulea. A few varieties are available, such as ‘Pink Shi’ and ‘Pink-Kii’, which have pink buds opening to slightly pink-tinged flowers, and may occasionally produce a few sterile florets. Deinanthe bifida ‘Pink-Shi’ĭeinanthe bifida is a Japanese endemic, introduced to the West by the Russian botanist C. Watering should be reduced as the growing season comes to an end. Summer moisture is essential – they will not tolerate drying out.
They are woodland plants and need partial to full shade and a humus rich soil. They are herbaceous perennials, very hardy, slowly forming a clump about 15-18″, 40-50cm tall and wide. Commonly known as false Hydrangeas, the botanical name comes from the Greek Deinos meaning extraordinary, and anthos meaning flower. Deinanthe is a small genus, of only two species, closely related to hydrangeas and rarely grown in U.K.