- Botanical name: Dictmanus albus var. purpureus
- Common name: Dittany
- Family: Rutaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Key features:
- Flowers
Also known as dittany or fraxinella, Dictmanus albus var. purpureus is an ancient plant originally cultivated by the Romans. It takes a season or two to settle down after planting. On a still summer’s day, the aromatic oils given off by the flowers can be ignited and burn with a bright blue flame. Although plants grow well in light shade, full sun and still air help produce the most impressive display and strongest fragrance.
Plants eventually form a bushy, upright clump of glossy leaves with a citrus fragrance. Spikes of mauve-pink flowers appear in early summer, which make excellent cut flowers.
This is the true burning bush, not to be confused with the annual bedding plant with the same common name, Bassia scoparia (formerly Kochia scoparia). The Royal Horticultural Society has given Dictmanus albus var. purpureus the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
How to grow Dictmanus albus
-
Plant size
60cm height
45cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle
- Sun exposure: Full sun, dappled shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / chalky / alkaline
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do not Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do Sow in September |
O
Do Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do Prune in September |
O
Do Prune in October |
N
Do Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
| Collect seeds | ||||||||||||
| Collect seeds |
J
Do not Collect seeds in January |
F
Do not Collect seeds in February |
M
Do not Collect seeds in March |
A
Do not Collect seeds in April |
M
Do not Collect seeds in May |
J
Do not Collect seeds in June |
J
Do not Collect seeds in July |
A
Do not Collect seeds in August |
S
Do Collect seeds in September |
O
Do Collect seeds in October |
N
Do not Collect seeds in November |
D
Do not Collect seeds in December |
Dictmanus albus and wildlife
Dictmanus albus has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Dictmanus albus poisonous?
Dictmanus albus can be toxic.
Toxic to People
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
