PlantFiles: Gas Plant, Burning Bush
Dictamnus albus

I just purchased seeds for this plant from J.L. Hudson, Seedsman and was reading the interesting description of this plant. It can live 100 years! I'll see how long it takes me to kill it.

Here in central Ia this plant has grown well. It does take a while to get established but once it is you'll get many positive comments. I have had a reaction to the plant with red burn marks on my legs but am not absolutly positive it was from this plant. After reading what another had to say I'm thinking it is. Plant still worth it!

I am writing from Manitoba Canada. We have extreme weather here, anywhere from 40 below in winter to 35+ above (c). Lots of snow in winter and hot and dry weather in summer is not uncommon. I have grown this plant now for several years and it is one of my favorite spring bloomers. It is very showy and I love the smell. Unfortunately I found out the hard way about the potential danger of growing it in my garden. Over the past several weeks I have been suffering from what my doctor thought might be shingles, then an allergic reaction to a plant and then just not knowing what it was. The sores were almost healed and then I got several more. My legs are covered with sores that look like burns. What finally got me investigating was two burn-like marks - that looked like a five leaf/petal flower. I was in my garden the other day and realized that they were exactly the same size as the seed heads on the gas plant. After doing some research on the internet I now realize that I have a "chemical like burn" from this plant. I still love the plant but am not sure what I will do. My legs are a mess and I understand that there is not much one can do for chemical type burns to relieve the pain. BE CAREFUL.

A most unusual plant that are low maintainance and establish slowly. Dislikes soggy soil. Likes full sun and doesn't mind a lightly shaded position. Flowers are white and appear in late Spring to early Summer. The seed capules also provide interest in late Summer and early Autumn. This plant is also known as Dittany. This is quite a hardy plant. pokerboy.

A beautiful plant currently in bloom in my yard in Grandview, Washington. We took a start to my daughter in Everett, Washington and it is also currently blooming nicely. Her neighbors all want a start. So, in Washington State, the plant will grow both in the deseret climate of Eastern Washington and in the wet climate of Western Washington.

I love this plant!! Once established it is carefree and well mannered. It gets bigger and better every year but does not spread invasively. I have grown it in two different locations in Kansas. Soils in both places were well into the 7.0+ ph range. With shade it has held up to heat, wind, dry conditions, and -20 below cold. I would rate this plant right up with peonies. It's growth habit, size, and bloom time are very similar. Oh yes I have tried igniting it. On a dead still hot day the seed pods will briefly flare with a blue flame that is not hot enough to damage the plant. Hard to find. Well worth the effort.

This has been a delight to me. A friend told me about gas plant several years ago and I ordered it by mail. I was lucky to have one of the plants adapt to its environment and it is now about 5 or 6 years old. The blooms are nice, fragrant and it is a very neat grower in my perenial garden. This year I am going to mature some of the seeds and attempt to grow it from seed. I have the rubra and I am hoping to locate seeds for the alba variety. I have tried the "lighter by the bloom" trick and it does indeed have a little spurt of flame as a result of the gas it emits. This also is a nice cut flower and adds fragrance to the arrangement.

Pruning: Flowers are self-cleaning. It is best to leave the seedheads, which form interesting star-shapes, to add interest in the garden through the summer and often into winter. Cut plants down in the spring. If any pruning is done when the plants are not dormant, care should be taken because the flowers and foilage can cause a dermatital reaction (skin irritation) in some individuals.
Long lived, tough plant that requires little care. Plant in fertile, humus rich, preferably alkaline soil that does not get soggy, in sun or light shade. Plants take some time (2-3 years) to become established. Plants are very slow growing. Usually no staking is required. Division is not recommended as success rate is low.

Grows in Heat Zones 8-1.

This is the only species in this genus. Best cultivated in full sun and rich well drained soil. It resents being disturbed once establised. Grows to 3' tall and 2 1/2' wide. Flowers are starshaped white, or pink. Blossoms in early summer. Oil evarporates from the leaves and it is said that on warm still nights you can light a match next to it and it will have a burst of flames, quickly and not harming the plant itself. (I have never tried this!) Hardy zones 3-9