Growing a Burning Bush – Dictamnus

Growing a Burning Bush – Dictamnus

http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/


The volatile oils from Dictamnus have a lemon scent and are quite flammable. The fumes are said to be capable of being ignited on a calm summer evening giving rise to its popular names Burning Bush or Gas Plant.

Growing a Burning Bush

  • Dictamnus is also called False Dittany but unlike Dittany it is inedible and has few herbal properties.
  • Dictamnus albus is a long lived perennial that grows 2-3 feet high. It flowers in late spring on a pyramid of spires in pink, purple and white.
  • Plants grow best in full sun but will tolerate some light shade. Grow in any well drained garden soil with added  lime .
  • Well established plants resent transplanting but should live for a longtime given sheltered conditions.
  • Plants can be grown from seed but take several years to flower. I remember being disappointed by Cuthberts Seeds from ‘Woolies’ when I was a kid but 50 years on perhaps I will try again.
  • There is only a single species Dictamnus albus but variety purpueus (shown below) has an RHS award of garden merit.

http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/

Other plants are sometimes referred to as Burning bush including Kochia tricopphylla and Euonymus alatus (alta)

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