Deinanthe caerulea 'Blue Wonder'

Deinanthe Hydrangeaceae

 A false Hydrangea that has clearly decided that white flowers are far too predictable. This elusive plant circulates under the name Deinanthe caerulea ‘Blue Wonder’, producing handsome clumps of dark green, finely textured foliage topped in early summer by wonderfully unusual, waxy blue to blue-white flowers with prominent anthers. The flowers nod from the stems rather charmingly, as though embarrassed by all the attention.

Its identity is slightly less straightforward than its appearance: plants sold as ‘Blue Wonder’ have been variously treated as D. caerulea, while there are persistent reports that it may actually be a hybrid between D. caerulea and D. bifida. Until that is properly resolved, the safest approach is to retain the name under which the plant has been distributed rather than pretend the taxonomy is tidier than it is. 

The D. caerulea parent is native to woodlands of western Hubei, China, at approximately 760–1,520m, making a cool, leafy woodland setting with fertile, humus-rich and reliably moist soil the ideal home. It is particularly valuable for shade, where its blue flowers are considerably more unusual than those of the Hydrangea relatives with which it shares the family. 

Flowering: June–July
Hardiness: H5, approximately –15 to –10°C
Height: 30–50cm
Spread: 45–60cm
Distribution: D. caerulea — western Hubei, China, at approximately 760–1,520m
Introduction: ‘Blue Wonder’ is a long-circulated horticultural name; original collection information has not been reliably documented. Its precise identity remains uncertain, with some evidence suggesting D. caerulea × D. bifida.