Datisca Cannabina (False Hemp, Cretan Hemp)

I bought these seeds in 2021 as part of the seed scheme as an RHS - Royal Horticultural Society member. The seed scheme has been running since 1905, basically you can choose from that year’s list of 180 seed species harvested from RHS Garden Wisley including annuals, herbaceous perennials, trees & shrubs by a small team of volunteers & staff who pick, clean & pack the seeds for you. They work out very reasonably priced, it is a set number of packets for a set price - but to be honest, it’s just lovely knowing you’ve got a piece of Wisely in your garden!

Anyway, back to the Datisca Cannabina, apart from being simply gorgeous for hammering on fabric, it is a fascinating plant: it is diocecious, meaning there are male plants & there are female plants. I have one of each! They have beautiful bright hanging tassles of, yellowy-green flowers (Dare I say, a little like ostentatious nettle flowers?) that arch over rhythmically swinging in the breeze like a pendulous metronome, I can sit for ages just watching them, mindfulness at its best.

The female plants have visible white pistils, these are the stigma, style & ovary (the reproductive parts of the flower) which will produce the seed pods. These make the flower look slightly ‘fluffier’.

I have also included images of my male flowers for you to see the contrast in the plants. The male plant never seems to reach the dizzy heights of the female plant, I’m not sure if that is to be expected or if it because it is in a more shaded spot.

The rate of growth of this herbaceous perennial is fantastic: it’s strong, cane like stems grow to at least 2 meters and the delicate looking pinnate leaves (which are similar to ash leaves) are a good contrast against large leaves in a tropical planting scheme as well as in any herbaceous cottage border.

I looked today at some hammering art I did this time last year & the colour is the strongest from this False Hemp, Cotinus (Smoke Bush) & the Flax Perenne from an earlier post.

Apparently they dry well to make good indoor displays but I always tend to leave my seed heads outside for the wildlife now.

This is certainly one of the most talked about plants in my garden!

@just.me.in.my.garden