kirengeshoma palmata, yellow wax bells

I had a plant of this at my previous house. Nice foliage in summer, but not a lot going for it other than that. The flowers were not very showy.

A woodland shade plant best grown in moist, acidic, humusy, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. I think I need one. For me it would be a, "as much sun as I can give it" plant though.

We’re on year two with Wax Bells, which are in a woodland garden planted last summer. This garden is on the dry side, but they seem to be holding their own. It’s known as a foliage plant, but if it can prosper on this site I’ll be thrilled with the flowers. Deer seem to leave it alone.

I have grown this plant for decades as well as K. koreana. The flowers are beautiful and yes they are deer resistant. It is one of the few plants I do not need to spray. A favorite of mine and you do need one Christopher.

The foliage shape is such a good contrast with all my astery meadow plants and the size of it means it can rise above and compete in the meadows. Deer resistance is a big plus. I have never seen them until this year and certainly never in a nursery. Now to find some. I asked the client where I first saw them what they were and where she got them and couldn't get an answer. I'll have to try again.

We have grown both types of this for probably 15 years and I definitely recommend it! It grows best here in 'the wet corner' - ones I planted in other areas died out. It has survived summer drought in the wet corner but it really seems to like wet soil in spring. It competes well with the ostrich ferns that grow there too. Goatsbeard and hydrangeas grow in that bed too along with smaller/low plants like white corydalis, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and a clump of small hostas.

This picture is from the end of June in 2019 with the goatsbeard in bloom by the fence:

This picture is from mid-August in 2018 with some of the kirengeshoma flowers in bloom - although this is not a good picture of them! My best pictures of the flowers are on an old half-dead computer in the basement:-)

This picture from May 19 2014 when we were doing some drainage improvements on the path by the 'wet corner' shows the area in more detail - you can just see some of the kirengeshoma emerging on the bottom right side of the picture:

The kirengeshomas were blooming nicely this morning when gdinie was here. This picture shows the Kirengeshoma koreana. This type is well worth having as well as the more common K. palmata Japanese one. Both grow in the same 'wet corner' bed. The Korean one starts blooming a bit later than the Japanese one but both were blooming today.

Nice combo with the ferns. Mine are settling in. I look forward to full size. The raccoon only dug one of the three up after first planting. Raccoons do that. They want to know what is in that soft fresh hole and don't give a hoot about the plant. The plant just gets kicked to the side. I plant things twice quite regular.

:-) Fortunately raccons are not a big problem in the garden here!