Decaisnea fargesii
Decaisne's pod plant, Blue pod
- Height × spread
- 5m × 4.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Spring, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This unusual plant has large pinnate leaves with very pronounced, rather rounded, leaflets. It makes a handsome upright specimen plant with its loose habit and long stems holding the foliage sprays that turn yellow in autumn. Pendulous clusters of greenish-yellow flowers hang beneath the leaves in May. During a hot summer these will develop into large, fat, matt-blue pods, rather like those of broad beans. These sit at the end of arching stems and don't mature until November.
- Flower colour
- Green, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Autumn foliage
- Yellow
- Fruit colour
- Blue
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 5m
- Spread
- 4.5m
- Height in 10 years
- 3m
- Spread in 10 years
- 3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Spring, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Wall cover, Structural
- Walls
- North, West facing
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.