Kirengeshoma palmata

About this cultivar:

Kirengeshoma palmata is a first-rate foliage plant, forming an exotic-looking, upright clump of toothed green maple-shaped leaves. Flowers appear in late summer as lemon-yellow bells, flaring open and held at the top of the stems. Normally used in shade-gardens, in our garden we grow ours in full sun.

• Position: Full sun, partial shade, full shade
• Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Flowers: July, August, September
• Other features: Woodland Plant, Dappled Shade or Full Shade Loving
• Hardiness: H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20°C), Fully hardy, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Habit: Clump forming
• Foliage: Deciduous
• Height: 100 - 120 cm (3 - 4 ft)
• Spread: 75 - 120 cm (2.5 - 4 ft)
• Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Colour: Green, yellow
• Goes well with: Looks good with Rodgersia, Hydrangea, Tricyrtis, Gentiana, Aconitum, Hostas, Ferns, Astilbe; shade-lovers

About this genus:

Kirengeshoma (kir-en-ge-sho-ma) is a genus containing two species of plants in the Hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae). Kirengeshoma palmata was described by Yatabe in 1890 and Kirengeshoma palmata Koreana Group by Nakai in 1935. Both are clump-forming perennials native to Eastern Asia, with sycamore-like palmate leaves and nodding, waxy yellow flowers on slender stalks, growing in shady environments. They are grown as garden plants in temperate regions of the world.

They love moist woodland type soil and are thus thought of as woodland plants, however they will tolerate a full sun if they have enough moisture; not a problem on these islands! They can be slow to establish and are one of the few late-flowering woodland perennials. We actually grow ours in full sun!

Looks good with Rodgersia, Hydrangea, Tricyrtis, Gentiana, Aconitum, Hostas, Ferns, Astilbe; shade-overs.