Jeffersonia dubiosa : drought resistant plant

Jeffersonia dubia, also called doubtful primrose, is a perennial herb. It belongs to the Barberry family.

This plant is a lovely ground cover and attracts honeybees. In early spring, blue, bell-shaped flowers cover its neat clumps. This shade-loving plant is great for gardens with limited sun. It can decorate shady areas and the base of trees where other flowers struggle.

Jeffersonia can grow almost anywhere in Russia. It resists drought, which is rare for garden flowers. It is also very hardy in winter. It handles both severe frosts and temperature swings during thaws. Gardeners like it because of this. Even after the flowers fade, the plant remains attractive all season.

Jeffersonia dubia naturally grows in the Far East (Ussuri region, Manchuria). It lives in thick mixed forests and survives in open spaces. It can spread to meadows if taller grasses surround it.

This plant forms a small, dense clump that reaches about 30-35 cm tall. It has a short rhizome, which produces straight, creeping stems. These stems are purple when young.

The leaves grow in bunches from the rhizome. They are round, about 8 cm across, and have slight notches. The leaves are smooth with a slightly wavy surface. They have no hairs or spines.

After flowering, the plant produces achenes. These are capsule-shaped fruits with a slit. The capsules hold many tiny, elongated seeds.

---