Evergreen shrub · Perennial · Shrub
Rostrinucula dependens
Chinese rostrinucula
An arching deciduous shrub with felted grey-green leaves and drooping spikes of pink flowers in late summer.
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)
- 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)
- H4 · Zone 7
- August–October
- Deciduous
Overview
A little-known Chinese shrub related to Buddleja, forming an arching, suckering thicket of stems clothed in soft, felted grey-green leaves. From late summer, slender, drooping spikes of small pink flowers appear at the shoot tips, extending the season of interest. In colder gardens it behaves like a herbaceous perennial, dying back and reshooting strongly from the base each spring.
At a Glance
Growing Conditions
Aspect Suitability
- South-facing
- West-facing
Site Tolerance
- Drought
Soil Tolerance
- Sandy
- Loam
- Acid
- Neutral pH
Foliage
Foliage interest: May–September
Seasonal Timeline
- Flowering Aug Sep Oct
- Foliage May Jun Jul Aug Sep
- Propagate May Jun Sep
Maintenance Calendar
- Mar Cut back old or frost-damaged stems hard to a low framework
- Apr Mulch to protect the root area and boost spring growth
- Jun Water while new growth establishes
- Aug Enjoy the late pink flower spikes and their pollinators
- Nov Cut back to the base after flowering in colder gardens
Garden Design
Works well in: Contemporary, Cottage, Specimen, Wildlife
Give it a warm, sheltered, sunny border where its late flowers extend the season; cut back hard in spring if grown as a cutback shrub.
Companion planting: Late-flowering perennials, Buddleja, Ornamental grasses
Wildlife Value
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Other pollinators
Safety
No well-established toxicity; ornamental shrub only.