About Dictamnus albus L.
This species, Dictamnus albus L., grows between 40 cm (16 in) and 100 cm (39 in) tall. Its flowers are arranged in a loose pyramidal spike, and range in colour from pale purple to white. Each flower has five petals and long projecting stamens. The leaves of Dictamnus albus L. resemble the leaves of an ash tree. The leaves of this plant have a bitter, unpalatable taste. Even though the plant has a lemon-like scent, it is acrid when consumed. Eating any part of the plant may cause mild stomach upset, and contact with its foliage can lead to phytophotodermatitis. A number of varieties and cultivars of Dictamnus albus L. have been selected for garden cultivation. The variety D. albus var. purpureus, which has violet-purple veining on white petals with a slight blush, has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Dictamnus plants are tap-rooted, which means mature plants are difficult to establish and do not divide successfully. Young plants often require three years of growth before they start flowering. Additionally, this species breaks leaf late in spring, so vigorous spring soil-working can harm even quite mature clumps. Combined with the toxicity of its foliage, these growing challenges mean Dictamnus is rarely grown in American gardens.
