X Didrangea 'Sandy Reed' is My Favorite Plant...This Week.

On a recent trip to Windcliff (Martha can post pictures!)  with Evan and Vicki, I acquired a lovely plant that looks very much like Dichroa febrifuga, which I grow for it's amazing blue berries.






Here's the description from the tag, "First time offering of National arboretum introduction possessing breeder rights, with best attributes of both Hydrangea macrophylla and Dichroa febrifuga.  Flowers of this selection will be as vibrant in color at Christmas as in June.  No fooling. A wonderful new addition to woody plants. Vegetative propagation is prohibited. Don't do it."

Flowers "as vibrant in color at Christmas as in June" was too much of a temptation, it had to come home with me.  I've found no information online about this plant and have no idea about hardiness although I'm guessing it's at least as hardy as it's more tender parent,  Dichroa febrifuga, which has been perfectly happy in my garden for several years.  (Did loose one during the phormium killing winters but the others made it through.)  I'm wondering if this will also produce berries.

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