Plant of the Month for April 2009

Jeffersonia dubia

Description and general information

Jeffersonia dubia is a beautiful woodland plant from eastern Asia. (There are two species in the genus Jeffersonia; the other is Jeffersonia diphylla of eastern North America.) The most common form of J. dubia in North American gardens is a beautiful light lavender color, but there is a seed strain in cultivation which is a darker shade. Both are well worth growing.

Cultivation

Good woodland soil in decidous shade.

Bloom period

Blooms before the leaves come out on the deciduous trees.

Propagation

Seed or division

Seed

Dry storage is fatal; sow seeds as soon as they are released.  They require a stratification period before they will germinate.

Division

Plants are best dug after blooming, then divided.

Plant Details Page