Gasplant

(Dictamnus albus)

Gasplant (Dictamnus albus)

Hectonichus

CC BY-SA 3.0

Image By: Hectonichus

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Copyright Notice: Photo by: Hectonichus | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 | Uploader: Hectonichus | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Rutaceae_-_DIctamnus_albus.JPG | Notes: {{Information |Description={{en|1=''Digitalis lanata'', Plantaginaceae, Woolly Foxglove, Grecian Foxglove, flower. The leaves are used in homeopathy as remedy: Digitalis lanata (Dig-l.)}} {{de|1=''Digitalis lanata'', Plantaginaceae, Wolliger Fingerhut, Bl |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Dictamnus albus, commonly known as Gasplant, is a perennial herb that is deciduous or semi-deciduous depending on the climate. It is native to a variety of habitats including open woodlands, grassy slopes, and rocky places in Southern and Central Europe, as well as parts of Asia and the Middle East. The plant typically grows to a height of 40 cm (16 in) to 100 cm (39 in), with a similar spread. The Gasplant is notable for its showy, fragrant flowers that form a loose pyramidal spike, varying in color from pale purple to white, and bloom in late spring to early summer. The flowers are five-petalled with long projecting stamens, creating a striking appearance. The leaves are pinnate, resembling those of an ash tree, and the plant may produce a citrus-like fragrance when the foliage is crushed.

The Gasplant is valued for its unique, long-lasting flowers and aromatic foliage. It is often used in perennial borders, cottage gardens, and as a specimen plant. The variety D. albus var. purpureus, with violet-purple veining on white petals, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Dictamnus albus thrives in full sun and requires medium amounts of water, preferring well-drained soils. It is not a plant for impatient gardeners, as it can take several years to flower and does not tolerate disturbance well due to its taproot. Additionally, the plant’s foliage contains oils that can cause skin irritation or photosensitivity, so caution should be exercised when handling it. Despite its beauty, the Gasplant is not commonly found in American gardens, likely due to its slow establishment and the care required to avoid damaging the plant.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: 1.5-2.5 feet
Growth Rate: Slow
Flower Color: Pink, White
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: Medium
Drainage: Slow, Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

Native to open woodlands, grassy slopes, and rocky places in Southern and Central Europe, as well as parts of Asia and the Middle East

Other Names

Common Names: Burningbush, Dittany, Fraxinella, Diptam, Gewöhnlicher Diptam, Brennender Busch, Weißer Diptam, Díctamo Blanco, Dictame Blanc, Herbe Aux Éclairs

Scientific Names: , Dictamnus albus, Dictamnus fraxinella, Dictamnus gymnostylis, Dictamnus angustifolius, Dictamnus albus var. albiflos, Dictamnus obtusiflorus, Dictamnus albus subsp. caucasicus, Dictamnus tadshikorum, Dictamnus albus subsp. gymnostylis

GBIF Accepted Name: Dictamnus albus L.