Overview

Hagenia abyssinica is a plant with a bushy, columnar upright habit in the genus Hagenia, part of the Rosaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Hagenia abyssinica grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include borders and woodland gardens.

About

Hagenia abyssinica is a bushy, columnar upright deciduous shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family. It thrives in full sun on a south-facing, sheltered aspect, preferring fertile, moist but well-drained loam soil with a neutral pH. Hardy to UK zone H4, this plant is suitable for borders and woodland gardens. It is best propagated by division in spring or semi-ripe cuttings in summer, with its main seasons of interest being spring and summer.

About the genus

Hagenia is a monotypic genus of flowering plant with the sole species Hagenia abyssinica, native to the high-elevation Afromontane regions of central and eastern Africa. It also has a disjunct distribution in the high mountains of East Africa from Sudan and Ethiopia in the north, through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania, to Malawi and Zambia in the south. A member of the rose family, its closest relative is the Afromontane genus Leucosidea.

Wikipedia contributors, "Hagenia", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Hagenia

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Hagenia

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam

Soil pH

Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

Aspect

South-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H4

Plant details

Hagenia abyssinica size, habit and characteristics

Habit

Bushy, columnar upright

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Borders, woodland gardens

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Hagenia abyssinica

Propagation

Division in spring, semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Pest resistance

Susceptible to slugs, snails, leafhoppers

Disease resistance

Susceptible to honey fungus, powdery mildews, verticillium wilt, foot and root rots

Frequently asked questions