Schizophragma fauriei Angel Wings

Schizophragma Angel Wings offers an absolutely enchanting spectacle when in bloom. Its white and airy summer flowering consists of immense umbels of flowers that overwhelm vegetation capable of reaching the top of a large tree over time. It will cover a a large, shady wall with beautiful vegetation, in the manner of ivy. Selected for its spectacular flowering, this vigorous variety also has beautiful leaves of green-grey veined with pewter which are, decorative for a good part of the year. It is worth making room for this large ornamental climbing bush, it is perfect in a naturalistic, romantic, or wild garden.

Schizophragama hydrangeoides var. fauriei (synonym S. integrifolium), is a layering bush from the hydrangea family originating from the high mountains of Taiwan. In its natural environment, it grows on rocky slopes, between 1500 and 2500m (4921 and 8202ft) above sea level. The cultivar 'Angel Wings' has recently been selected for its large inflorescences and its beautiful foliage shaded with grey.

The establishment of Schizophragma Angel Wings is quite slow, but it shows more vigorous growth after 3 or 4 years of cultivation. It is a climbing shrub with a woody trunk and tortuous, brown, hairy stems, equipped with aerial roots. It will reach about 15m (49ft) in height and spread over 3m (10ft) after many years. From 3 years old the Schizophragma clings by itself with climbing roots. The flowering lasts at least 3 weeks in July-August at the terminal part of the stems. These are corymbs or flattened bouquets of 35-40 cm (14-16in) in diameter, composed of tiny fertile flowers with protruding stamens surrounded by a crown of sterile flowers with large trailing, tear-shaped bracts, resembling small feathers, reaching a length of 7 cm (3in). The flowering is extraordinary but sometimes takes 3 to 4 years to appear. The foliage is deciduous to semi-evergreen depending on the climate and disappears more or less completely in winter. It consists of large leaves measuring 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8in) in length, with a papery and slightly rough texture, heart-shaped, slightly hairy, and with a serrated margin. The leaf surface is an elegant grey-green, traversed by veins of a darker grey. Before falling, the foliage takes on a beautiful yellow colour.

The Schizophragma fauriei was named in tribute to Urbain Jean Faurie (1847-1915), a French botanical priest who collected many plants during missions to Japan, Korea, and Formosa.

This Schizophragma is robust and hardy in most climates and easy to grow in ordinary soil that is well-loosened and not excessively chalky. Once well established, it is a conquering woody climber capable of climbing many supports. Appreciating semi-shaded exposures, it will be ideal for embellishing and concealing a large wall exposed to the northeast or shaded in the afternoon, but it can also climb into a tree. Not invasive at all and generally adapts its growth to the size of the support. It can be associated with climbing or trailing roses, clematis (Madame Edouard Andre, Ville de Lyon), other climbing hydrangeas (Pileostegia viburnoides), golden hop or a climbing fuchsia.