Kirengeshoma Species, Yellow Wax Bells

On Jul 13, 2018, psebelist from Morrisville, PA wrote:

I have had the plant for about 8 years and it has never gotten bigger than about 2 feet x 2 feet. Seems happy and healthy. It has only bloomed a few times, each with only one bloom. It's in the shade and I keep it well watered. I moved it to a new location about three years ago, hoping that would stimulate it to grow larger, but I just keep waiting for it to get bigger. Not really complaining, just doesn't seem to correlate with the other comments I have read about the plant.

On Mar 1, 2016, Keith2 from Charlotte, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:

Late response to joellefm re deer : Kirengeshoma is generally advertised to be deer proof, but deer happily munch through the leaves in Charlotte 7b. It could be that part of deer-lore is that they must try everything once :-) .. . I plan to move my K ( have 3 of them ) ( when they revive this spring ) to different shady, protected areas, harder to reach and will see what happens . . .

On Aug 27, 2013, ms_greenjeans from Hopkins, MN (Zone 4a) wrote:

In my opinion, this plan is simply stunning and a shade garden must-have. That being said, in my Minnesota garden it either isn't as happy as I would like, or it just takes a long time to establish. I hope patience will be rewarded, because I'd absolutely love to have a nice big clump of this gorgeous plant.

On Sep 27, 2012, lejardin24 from Hermitage, PA wrote:

I love this plant. It grows beautifully in 2 different gardens, one in Western Pennsylvania near route 80, and also on the Southwestern coast of Nova Scotia next to a protected back bay. The first year it grew to 2 feet high and 2 feet wide. It is one of the few late summer-early fall bloomers in my gardens. The leaves resemble a shorter, stockier version of the oak-leaf hydrangea, and the flowers are sprays of a pale, buttery yellow which project out in front of the leaves. A nice contrast against the foliage. It is so different, that it catches any gardener's eye. I was suprised to find that it is in the Hydrangea family.

On Oct 12, 2011, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote:

Seem to be solidly zone 4 hardy. Found out that they are very senstive to frosts and freezes - one year I had a unusually warm early spring and it came up earlier than usual then a late freeze hit it hard along with woodbine. Almost every other perennials just shrug off the freeze. Very late bloomer, here in Minnesota its blooming time is just barely before the average frost/freeze date.

On Jan 10, 2008, Fledgeling from Huron, SD wrote:

kirengeshoma palmata is native japan, where it is a rare plant. Easily cultivated in a moist, humus-rich, well drained soil in shade or part shade.
Bloom time is very unusual for a shade perennial, and it is worth including in any shade garden for this.

On Jun 3, 2005, Shadyfolks from Chesterland, OH (Zone 5b) wrote:

I too love this plant, I have been growing it now for three years. I love watching the flower buds grow and swell up. My plant seems to do fine in a rather dry sandy location with only a little dappled sunlight. It's great for a woodland garden.

On Sep 11, 2004, lego_brickster from Lawrenceville, PA (Zone 5b) wrote:

This is my new favorite flower.
The bells are heavy and fleshy over 1 1/2 inches long - a pleasure to touch as well as look at. The unique shape of the flowers is welcome so late in the season.
The plants grow to about 3 feet tall in woodland settings - damp shade. They grow upright, and are rather strong and woody. Only the weight of the seedpods tends to pull them over.
Each plant will have dozens of these bells, but heavy rains tend to knock off the flowers. The seed pods swell to about 3/4 of an inch, and contain three compartments of small scaly seeds.
This is my first attempt at propagation, (trying both cuttings and saving seeds) and will report on my success (or failure) in the spring.