Dictamnus albus

RHS Plant Profile

dittany

RHS

Other common names

burning bush, candle plant, fire plant, fraxinella, gas plant, spitfire plant

Herbaceous Perennial

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An erect perennial to 1.2m tall, with aromatic, dark green leaves divided into lance-shaped leaflets, and long racemes of white or purple flowers 2.5cm across in early summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Rutaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: TOXIC to skin with sunlight. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets with sunlight - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Dictamnus are woody-based, aromatic perennials with erect stems bearing pinnate leaves and terminal racemes of 5-petalled flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: SW Europe to E Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as ripe or in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Coastal
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back to the base in autumn

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free