Decaisnea fargesii

Decaisnea fargesii is an upright, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that is native to woodlands, thickets, mountain slopes and ravines in western China, Bhutan, NE India, Myanmar, Nepal and Sikkim. This shrub typically grows up to 20' tall and wide. It is primarily grown as an ornamental for its long odd-pinnate leaves, its monoecious flowers in drooping racemes and its exceptional metallic blue bean-like fruit pods. Although individual flowers are not particularly showy, the large racemes in bloom are interesting and attractive.

Flowers give way to cylindrical, bean-like seed pods (to 4" long) that ripen to blue in fall. Common names of deadman's fingers, blue sausage fruit, blue cucumber shrub and blue bean tree all convey the general message that the fruits are quite interesting and unique. Fruits will split open at maturity to reveal a large mass of seeds embedded in edible pulp. Lepchas (aboriginal inhabitants of Sikkim) relish this fruit, but it is not eaten much outside its native geographic range. The peel of the fruit is known to contain some latex, so when enjoying the fruit, open it along its natural seam and scoop out the flesh.

Cold hardy to USDA Zone 6a or to -10 degrees Fahrenheit.