The Invisible Beauty of Hydrangeas
By: Suan T
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA
By: Suan T
Age: 16
Atlanta, Georgia USA
Out of the many hydrangea species found in Asia and the Americas, Dichroa febrifuga is a pretty shrub with more to it than just beauty. More commonly known as Chinese Quinine, it is a perennial plant that blooms in the summer and bears fruit in autumn.4 It grows natively in Southeast Asian countries like China, Myanmar, and India. Like any hydrangea, acidity can affect the color of its flower. Its flower has two colors, the outside is white, and the inside ranges from blue to lilac, depending on the soil's acidity. Usually, this plant is propagated by cuttings, but it can also be cultivated from seeds. It can grow up to 7 feet tall and 5 feet wide in warmer sub-tropical regions with little to no frost.
Dichroa febrifuga is a stunning shrub that is well suited for ornamental or pollinator gardens in Georgia. It is not a very difficult plant to maintain but does require some attention and watering. Chinese Quinine prefers to grow in moist soil with good drainage and partial shade. They attract bees and butterflies with their pretty bi-colored flowers and songbirds with their showy berries.
Dichroa febrifuga is a stunning shrub that is well suited for ornamental or pollinator gardens in Georgia. It is not a very difficult plant to maintain but does require some attention and watering. Chinese Quinine prefers to grow in moist soil with good drainage and partial shade. They attract bees and butterflies with their pretty bi-colored flowers and songbirds with their showy berries.
Not only is Dichroa febrifuga an alluring plant and a great addition to a garden, but it also has a lot of medicinal uses. Both the common name and species name came from their medicinal uses. The species name, febrifuga, was derived from the Latin word febris, meaning fever, and fugare, which means to drive away. With thousands of years of use as traditional medicine, it is among the fifty most widely used herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM). Its common name, Chinese Quinine, also likely comes from the fact it is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Quinine part comes from its antimalarial property. This plant has been traditionally used to reduce fevers, lower blood pressure, relieve chest congestion, and treat malaria. Modern medicine is also trying to use this plant to treat malaria by researching and studying chemical compounds derived from it for their antimalarial properties. Febrifugine, a chemical compound derived from the plant, has been studied for potential therapeutic use in treating cancer. In addition, a synthetic chemical derived from febrifugine, halofuginone, has also been studied to treat many autoimmune disorders. Unlike previous methods, halofuginone prevents an autoimmune response without weakening the body's immunity. Although Chinese Quinine is a medicinal plant, it can be toxic if ingested, so please do not take a bite from it.
This shrubby, bi-colored hydrangea has many redeeming qualities. I've always loved the bushy and shrubby flowers of hydrangeas since I first saw one about five years ago. Their unique bush-like flowers always fascinated me. This particular hydrangea, Dichroa febrifuga, is even more special because this plant is native to Myanmar, where I was born. To think I could have been a couple of feet away from one when I was younger is an exciting thought. This would be a perfect addition to my garden since it is a beautiful plant with many uses. The most exciting aspect of growing this in my garden is all the birds, pollinators, and butterflies I'll see because I love watching the fat little bees flying around.
This shrubby, bi-colored hydrangea has many redeeming qualities. I've always loved the bushy and shrubby flowers of hydrangeas since I first saw one about five years ago. Their unique bush-like flowers always fascinated me. This particular hydrangea, Dichroa febrifuga, is even more special because this plant is native to Myanmar, where I was born. To think I could have been a couple of feet away from one when I was younger is an exciting thought. This would be a perfect addition to my garden since it is a beautiful plant with many uses. The most exciting aspect of growing this in my garden is all the birds, pollinators, and butterflies I'll see because I love watching the fat little bees flying around.
Bibliography
Delude, Cathryn. “Molecular Secrets of Ancient Chinese Herbal Remedy Revealed.” Harvard Medical School, 13 Feb. 2012, https://hms.harvard.edu/news/molecular-secrets-ancient-chinese-herbal-remedy-revealed. Accessed 14 July 2022.
Dichroa Febrifuga.” Plant Finder, https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=291467&isprofile=1&basic=Dichroa%20febrifuga. Accessed 14 July 2022.
“Hydrangea Febrifuga.” Royal Horticultural Society, https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/511005/hydrangea-febrifuga/details. Accessed 14 July 2022.
Hydrangea Febrifuga (Asian Hydrangea, Blue Evergreen Hydrangea, Chinese Quinine).” North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hydrangea-febrifuga/. Accessed 14 July 2022.
McLaughlin, Noel P., et al. “The Chemistry and Biology of Febrifugine and Halofuginone - PubMed.” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 22, no. 7, Apr. 2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2014.02.040.
“Quinine: MedlinePlus Drug Information.” MedlinePlus, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682322.html. Accessed 14 July 2022.
Smullen, Shaun, et al. “Chemical Synthesis of Febrifugine and Analogues - PubMed.” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 26, no. 9, May 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2018.04.027. 8
Delude, Cathryn. “Molecular Secrets of Ancient Chinese Herbal Remedy Revealed.” Harvard Medical School, 13 Feb. 2012, https://hms.harvard.edu/news/molecular-secrets-ancient-chinese-herbal-remedy-revealed. Accessed 14 July 2022.
Dichroa Febrifuga.” Plant Finder, https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=291467&isprofile=1&basic=Dichroa%20febrifuga. Accessed 14 July 2022.
“Hydrangea Febrifuga.” Royal Horticultural Society, https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/511005/hydrangea-febrifuga/details. Accessed 14 July 2022.
Hydrangea Febrifuga (Asian Hydrangea, Blue Evergreen Hydrangea, Chinese Quinine).” North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hydrangea-febrifuga/. Accessed 14 July 2022.
McLaughlin, Noel P., et al. “The Chemistry and Biology of Febrifugine and Halofuginone - PubMed.” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 22, no. 7, Apr. 2014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2014.02.040.
“Quinine: MedlinePlus Drug Information.” MedlinePlus, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682322.html. Accessed 14 July 2022.
Smullen, Shaun, et al. “Chemical Synthesis of Febrifugine and Analogues - PubMed.” Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 26, no. 9, May 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2018.04.027. 8
Editor's note
Wildlife In Spotlight collaborated with ten students who attended the Summer High School Leadership Summit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. As part of Suan's seven-week program, he had to research, write and present on a plant of his choice. He met with horticulturists, conservationists and other experts to explore the Garden's collections and gather information to write his article. Students were encouraged to select plants that not only interested them, but also had ecological, ethnobotanical, or economic value.
Many thanks to Lorin Boren, School Program Assistant Manager, Atlanta Botanical Garden for coordinating and facilitating this partnership!
Wildlife In Spotlight collaborated with ten students who attended the Summer High School Leadership Summit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. As part of Suan's seven-week program, he had to research, write and present on a plant of his choice. He met with horticulturists, conservationists and other experts to explore the Garden's collections and gather information to write his article. Students were encouraged to select plants that not only interested them, but also had ecological, ethnobotanical, or economic value.
Many thanks to Lorin Boren, School Program Assistant Manager, Atlanta Botanical Garden for coordinating and facilitating this partnership!