Dictamnus albus

var. albiflorus

WHITE BURNING BUSH

Dictamnus albus var. albiflorus
WHITE BURNING BUSH

Showy spires of white butterfly flowers with a fetching scent, are just one of the bonus features of Dictamnus albus var. albiflorus.
This is the more rarely seen pure white version of the beloved tough old Purple Burning Bush.

Spires of fragrant butterfly flowers & citrus scented foliage

Otherwise it is identical in hardiness and all round garden value.
Burning Bushes, both white and purple versions, are long blooming over spring & summer, with fragrant spires of butterfly like flowers.
And Burning bush spires also make excellent cut flowers as well as showy garden display.
Plus there is the attractive citrus scented glossy foliage to enjoy.

Water-wise & drought resistant

Dictamnus albus var. albiflorus is water-wise and drought resistant, just like her more common purple sister.
And they both cope well in poorer soils, including sandy or clay soils.
Both are frost & dry hardy, long lived perennials with exceptional hardiness, as befits plants native to desert regions in northern Africa.

Why are they called Burning Bushes?

The foliage of a Burning Bush gives off a fresh citrus scent, and this wafts particularly strongly on a hot day. This is because the foliage is rich in essential oils which the heat brings out.
Dictamnus is actually a member of the citrus family, Rutaceae, so no wonder it smells like fresh lemons or lemon blossom.
It has also long been suggested that this plant may be the biblical “burning bush” mentioned in the bible when Moses saw a bush in the desert that was burning but not consumed by the fire.
It is just possible, on a very hot day, to strike a match close to the foliage, and get a flash as the scented volatile oils in the air ignite. The flash only lasts for a split second, and the trick should not be mentioned to small boys with pyrotechnic tendencies.

80cm High flower spires x 60cm Wide round clump of scented foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: Warm – Cold – Cool treatment.

Sow in winter / early spring in punnets.

First soak the seeds in fresh water for 24 hours.

Rinse, then sow in punnets on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Now press the seeds gently to the mix to ensure good contact.
Then barely cover with sieved mix or fine sandy grit.
Because these seeds need light for germination.

Now thoroughly moisten the mix by soaking the punnet in a shallow water bath, so the moisture percolates up to the surface from the bottom.

Then continue to keep moist indoors at approx. 18-22C for 6 weeks.

After 6 weeks in a warm, well lit position indoors (not in direct sun), then wrap the punnet in cling-wrap and place in fridge (not freezer) for a further 6 weeks.

Finally unwrap and place the punnet in a cool shaded place (no direct sun), as temperatures of approx. 13C are best for rapid germination.

Then most seedlings should emerge in approx. 30 days.

But do not discard as some seeds will continue to sprout. This is a desert plant’s natural trick to try to have some of their seeds germinating into favourable weather.
Have patience – this lovely plant is worth it.

SEED COUNT: 8 large seeds per pack approx. of this rarely available plant.

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