Hydrangea febrifuga aka Chinese Quinine

Hydrangea febrifuga is described in horticultural references as an easily grown plant once climate is suitable, succeeding in open loamy soil with regular moisture and tolerating partial shade through to full sun. Its main constraint is climate — it is a subtropical/tropical Asian shrub hardy roughly to USDA zone 8 / UK zone 9, so outside warm-temperate or warmer regions it requires container culture or a sheltered, frost-free position rather than special technique.

This is an evergreen shrub of moderate, rounded-spreading habit. Most authoritative sources describe mature plants at 1-2 m tall, with field references reporting up to about 3 m. PFAF rates growth as medium.

Hydrangea febrifuga is a plant of the Asian subtropics and tropics, ranging in habitat from about 200 m up to 2,400 m elevation. It is rated hardy to USDA zone 8-11 and UK zone 9, indicating it tolerates light frost in mature wood but is not reliably hardy in cold-temperate climates.

Flowers are arranged in a 3-20 cm corymbose panicle. Petals are oblong-elliptic, slightly fleshy and reflex at maturity in either blue or white forms. As with the showier mophead hydrangeas, flower colour responds to soil chemistry — the bluest forms develop on very acid soils. Bloom time depends on climate: Flora of China records February to April in its native range, while PFAF lists June to August for cooler reference conditions.

Wikipedia notes both blue-flowered and white-flowered forms, and Useful Tropical Plants emphasizes that flower colour shifts with soil pH (deepest blue on very acid soils). Many of the variants long treated as separate species — for example Dichroa versicolor (Hydrangea ×versicolor), Dichroa cyanea, Dichroa sylvatica and Dichroa yunnanensis — are now folded into Hydrangea febrifuga as synonyms.

PFAF and Useful Tropical Plants describe the plant as suited to the subtropics and tropics of eastern Asia and to warmer parts of the temperate zone, hardy to roughly USDA zone 8-11 / UK zone 9. It thrives in open loamy soils with steady moisture and accepts partial shade through to full sun, making it a candidate for sheltered gardens in warm-temperate regions and a reliable shrub in subtropical conditions.

Hydrangea febrifuga is propagated by seed and by cuttings. PFAF specifies sowing seed in a greenhouse in spring and taking cuttings of nearly ripe wood in August; Useful Tropical Plants describes cuttings from young branches.

Hydrangea febrifuga has no known edible uses; PFAF rates its edibility 0/5. The fresh sap of leaves and roots is in fact emetic, and raw material is reported to cause vomiting, so the plant should not be considered food.

Chang Shan (Hydrangea febrifuga / Dichroa febrifuga) is one of the "50 fundamental herbs" of traditional Chinese medicine and historically the most important Chinese antimalarial herb. The roots and leaves contain the alkaloids febrifugine and isofebrifugine, isolated in the 1940s; febrifugine is reported to be 64-100 times more potent than quinine against malaria, but it is also more toxic, which has limited direct clinical use. The synthetic derivative halofuginone (brand Halocur) is licensed in veterinary medicine and is being researched for autoimmune disease through selective inhibition of Th17 cells. Modern pharmacology also documents anti-inflammatory activity via NF-κB, MAPK and Akt pathway suppression. PFAF gives the species a medicinal rating of 3/5.

Beyond medicine, Useful Tropical Plants and PFAF report that the wood of Hydrangea febrifuga is used as a fuel; PFAF rates other uses 1/5. No fibre, dye, ornamental hedging or other industrial uses are recorded by the sources surveyed.

Chinese Quinine’s native range is Asia and the Americas.

Chinese Quinine should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Chinese Quinine loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Chinese Quinine requires abundant, bright and direct light. Placing it less than one foot from a window is the best way to make sure the plant receives enough light to survive and thrive. Depending on your region, however, the current weather can affect the placement of the plant in your home. For example, in some areas the sun may be too direct and intense, so it's best to place it farther away from the window. You may also need to adjust your placement according to the season as the sunlight can change intensity over the course of the year. If you live in a region with significant temperature fluctuations, such as a desert, you may need to place the plant a bit farther away from the window to avoid extreme heat or cold. With some care and attention, your Chinese Quinine will be sure to bring you many years of beauty and enjoyment.

The Chinese Quinine does not necessitate supplementary humidity. Plants primarily absorb water through their roots, rather than their leaves. Hence, the most effective way to supply humidity to your plants is by watering the soil.

The growth of Chinese Quinine is gradual and it doesn't necessitate any additional fertilizers. Replacing the soil in its pot once a year should suffice to provide the plant with sufficient nutrition. It's important to keep in mind that plants derive their energy from the sun's rays, not fertilizers.

Ploi does not possess verified information regarding the toxicity of this particular plant. In the event that you, a member of your family, or a pet ingests plant material with an unclear toxicity level, it is highly recommended to seek the advice of a medical professional.

During the cold period, it is common for Chinese Quinine to go dormant and their growth may slow down, so waterings should be spaced out more during this period.