Schizophragma fauriei

Schizophragma fauriei, native to Taiwan, is a superb climbing bush with running stems, related to Hydrangeas, whose aerial roots allow it to cling to many supports. Standing at a height of 5 to 15 m, it has dense foliage of wide dark green leaves and displays large corymbs of sterile flowers, with numerous and beautiful cream bracts, during the summer. A graceful and abundant summer flowering which contrasts beautifully with the foliage!

Schizophragma fauriei is a Taiwanese running bush, originating from high mountains, where it grows on cliffs, belonging to the hydrangea family. It forms a vigorous woody climber, reaching up to 15 m (49ft) in height, with claw-shaped aerial roots. Its brown, velvety, twisted branches give it a dense and abundant foliage. Its deciduous to semi-evergreen foliage is dark green, grey on the underside, and composed of large velvety leaves with long petioles that turn yellow in autumn. In July-August, it is covered with inflorescences in the form of very large flat cymes, measuring up to 30 cm, and featuring sterile flowers with large cream bracts, 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) long, resembling tears or small feathers.

Schizophragma fauriei was named in honour of Urbain Jean Faurie (1847-1915), a French botanist priest who collected numerous plants during missions in Japan, Korea, and Formosa.

This Schizophragma is robust and hardy, easy to cultivate, and can climb and conquer many supports. Highly decorative, it is an essential climbing plant for a naturalistic garden, a garden in green and white tones, or a romantic or wild garden. It prefers semi-shaded exposures and will be ideal for embellishing and concealing a wall, but it can also climb into a tree. Not invasive at all, it will simply adapt its growth to the size of the support. It can be associated with climbing Roses, Clematis, other climbing Hydrangeas, as well as Hops or a climbing Fuchsia.