Kirengeshoma palmata

Plant of the month: September

kirengeshoma palmata

Commonly known as ‘yellow wax bells’ this graceful somewhat shrubby relative of hydrangea has erect purplish stems and yellow flowers from late summer to early autumn. The flowers then give way to unusual 3 horned brownish-green seed capsules.

It is native to Korea and the Japanese islands of Shikoku and Kyushu. This is an ideal architectural herbaceous plant which does well in an informal bed, cottage garden or woodland setting as long as there is sufficient moisture. It can withstand temperatures as low as -15oC. This is a good companion plant in a bog garden with Rodgesia although slugs do love the stems as they unfurl in the spring.