Kirengeshoma palmata
This Japanese native is a bit fussy and so has a reputation for being difficult to grow, but the warm, wet conditions in Devon and lime-free soil seem to suit it well and we find it to be a very useful plant for the well-mulched shady borders of the Cherry Garden, Upper Woodland Walk, the Rock Gully, the Shrubbery and The West Country Town Garden. Here, the nodding bright yellow flowers add colour when many of the other shade-loving shrubs and perennials have finished flowering.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Yellow wax-bells
- Family
- Hydrangeaceae
- Height & spread
- 60cm-120cm (24-48in) x 75cm (30in)
- Form
- Herbaceous perennial
- Soil
- Moist, lime-free soil with leaf mould
- Aspect
- Partial to full shade, sheltered from wind
- Hardiness
- Hardy throughout the British Isles
Kirengeshoma
Kirengeshoma is a clump-forming perennial, with short rhizomes. It grows in the woodlands of Korea and Japan and bears palmately lobed, maple-like leaves and branched sprays of tubular bell-shaped, pale yellow flowers. Plants from Korea are recognised as Koreana Group.
The name Kirengeshoma is formed from words in the Japanese language. Ki means yellow and renge means lotus blossom and shoma means hat. Rengashoma itself is the Japanese common name for Anemonopsis macrophylla which this plant looks similar to.
Kirengeshoma palmata
Arching, purple-reddish stems hold aloft pale green, slightly hairy leaves which become stalkless further up the plant. Handsome buds develop in late summer and early autumn into wonderful waxy, yellow, bell-shaped flowers 3–4cm (1–1½in) long. Eventually it will grow to 60–120cm (2–4ft) high and 75cm (2½ft) wide depending on the moisture content of the soil.
This clump-forming perennial has pale green, slightly hairy, lobed leaves on dark maroon stems. It is suitable for a shady border, peat bed or woodland garden.
Cultivation
- Grow in moist lime-free soil, enriched with leaf mould, in a partially shaded position with protection from the wind.
- The young growth and leaves are sometimes attacked by slugs and snails.
Propagation
- Sow seed in a cold frame in spring, or as soon as it is ripe.
- Alternatively, divide in spring.
AGM
The RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee awarded Kirengeshoma palmata an Award of Garden Merit and described it as a:
'Herbaceous perennial forming a clump to 1.2m, with palmately lobed leaves and dark maroon stems bearing nodding, fleshy, narrowly bell-shaped creamy-yellow flowers to 3.5cm long in open panicles.'