Mukdenia Oresitrophe Fusion of Fire

The Oredenia 'Fusion of Fire' is a superb perennial hybrid, with large indented leaves that turn a bright red in autumn. Clusters of soft pink flowers appear in spring. Plant this hardy perennial in fertile, moist soil. The plant thrives best in an area with filtered sunlight or afternoon shade, in a rockery or a shrub border.

The Oredenia 'Fusion of Fire' belongs to the Saxifragaceae family, resulting from a cross-breeding between a Mukdenia and an Oresitrophe. Its first parent, the Mukdenia, originates from Northern China, including Manchuria, and Korea, forming a compact clump with colourful toothed foliage in spring and autumn. The second parent, the Oresitrophe rupifraga, is the sole species of the genus Oresitrophe. It is a perennial plant native to Northern China, from the eastern Shanxi province to the western Liaoning province. It develops large cordate leaves, displaying beautiful autumnal hues. This unique intergeneric cross was achieved by Johan Nilson from the Gothenburg Botanical Garden. The 'Fusion of Fire' is more floriferous than the Mukdenia, the better-known parent of the two in our gardens, thanks to the enhanced vigour of the hybrid's genetics. The plant forms a ground cover reaching 35 cm in height and 60 cm in width. Flowering occurs in May and June. It emerges with thick, reddish, pubescent stems bearing light panicle inflorescences in a powdery pink shade.

The Oredenia 'Fusion of Fire' is an ideal plant for woodland borders or moist woodlands, shrub borders, mixed borders, or cool, shady rockeries. If this perennial grows in the shade, it thrives better in partial shade, for example, in the east, benefiting from morning sun. You can also plant it in filtered sunlight under the light shade of a tree, for instance. It can be paired with hostas, ferns, Japanese anemones, Brunneras, and bleeding hearts that thrive in similar environments. Combining it with Hakonechloa macra 'Nicolas', a small red and gold grass, will have a stunning effect, or with shrubs like hydrangeas and fuchsias, always in moist soil.