Deinanthe caerulea Blue Wonder

Deinanthe caerulea 'Blue Wonder' is a beautiful perennial related to hydrangeas that plant enthusiasts will cultivate like their shrubby cousins in partial shade, in deep, humus-rich and moist but well-drained soil. Its spring flowering is a jewel to admire up close: pretty blue-mauve porcelain cups, almost translucent, filled with white stamens, they bloom in clusters on beautiful foliage reminiscent of hydrangeas. 

Deinanthe 'Blue Wonder' is a horticultural hybrid resulting from cross-breeding between Deinanthe caerulea, native to China, and D. bifida, its cousin native to Japan. It is a herbaceous perennial plant, with its above-ground vegetation disappearing in winter and emerging from the ground in spring. This Deinanthe, with a relatively slow growth, eventually forms a hemispherical clump measuring about 50cm (20in) in all directions. The stems emerging from the ground bear at their tips very beautiful leaves resembling those of hydrangeas, either entire or divided in two at their tips. Flowering takes place in May-June. The flowers are somewhat peculiar, slightly drooping, with 6 petals of waxy and translucent texture arranged in a cup around a heart filled with numerous stamens. Their colour is a fairly light violet-blue. They are carried in small terminal clusters by slender red stems above the foliage. The name Deinanthe translates to "strange flower," which can be seen in the original appearance of the flower.

Deinanthes are excellent companions for hydrangeas, rhododendrons, camellias, and other plants that prefer humus-rich and non-calcareous soil. They also blend perfectly with Solomon's seals, hostas, and ferns that appreciate the same moist and gently shaded environments. Place them at the forefront of your flowerbeds or not far from a pathway, always away from intense sunlight and sheltered from the wind, to be able to admire their strange but delightful flowering up close.