Yamaguchi Select Dichroa. Mr. Yamaguchi was one of the first Japanese nurserymen to visit us here. He is definitely one of the leading plantsmen in Japan and he travels much into China. He lives in the Gifu Prefecture rather high up in the mountains, probably zone 6. He gave me this and the previous 'Yamaguchi Hardy' selection, so I named them for him. It is an evergreen (in zone 8-10) hydrangea relative, that makes a 30" high shrub with a slightly greater spread and produces numerous clusters of medium blue flowers in April which lack the sterile florets of most Hydrangeas. The flowers are then followed by the most electric blue berries in the plant kingdom if one has another clone for cross pollination. It needs complete shade to retain its evergreen foliage. In Zone 7, it would need good protection. It would make an excellent pot plant in the cool greenhouse. San Marcos Growers says, "The specific epithet 'febrifuga' is in reference to the use of the plant as a febrifuge, acting to reduce fever. Its use as such is reported in the Himalayas, Malaysia and China and the plant is reportedly cultivated in Russia as an anti-malarial herb."
