Gas Plant Dictamnus albus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- dik-TAM-nus AL-bus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Dittany is an upright bushy herbaceous perennial that is slow to establish, but once established, is very long lived. At maturity, it can reach 3 feet high and 2 feet wide with an upright, clumping form and fragrant glossy green leaves. Showy spikes of spidery-looking white flowers appear in early summer. In hot weather old flowers or seed pods emit a flammable oil and a match held below the spike on a still night will ignite a burst of vapor leading to the common name, Gas Plant. Dittany does not transplant well, and once established should not be divided in the garden. You can start new plants from seed sown outdoors in the fall, but these seeds must go through the winter for cold stratification before they take root and grow. Note that they can take 2 to 4 years before they will bloom. The genus name comes from the Greek and is probably named after Mount Dikte. The species name means white.
Dittany prefers moist, well-drained, humusy and slightly alkaline soils in full sun, but will tolerate some drought once established. It does best in climates with cooler summer nights and can tolerate poor soil and light shade. In its native European habitat, it can be found on woodland margins and rocky soil. Flowers and foliage can cause skin rash in some individuals.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dictamnus
- Species:
- albus
- Family:
- Rutaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern and Central Europe and Central Asia.
- Distribution:
- Europe to South Western Siberia and Western Himalaya. Has been introduced into Vermont, New York, and Michigan.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies.
- Edibility:
- Leaves can cause stomach upset if eaten in large quantities.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Star-shaped seed heads can be left on the plant after flowering to provide some ornamental interest.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Produces 1 inch fragrant, 5-petaled, white, lavender or pink terminal raceme flowers with long projecting stamens in late spring to early summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Glossy light-green leaves with a lemony fragrance when crushed remain attractive throughout the growing season.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Rigid stems do not typically need any support. Typically grow to 2 to 4 feet tall.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
