This is a "Multiple Variation" style listing. Use the "Seed Qty" drop-down menu, above, to select quantity/weight. Choose from: 5 Seeds for $2.00 20 Seeds for $4.00 40 Seeds for $7.00 80 Seeds for $12.00 160 Seeds for $22.00 320 Seeds for $42.00 This item ships free when paid together with any other purchase. U.S. addresses only. Blue Sausage Fruit, Decaisnea fargesii, Shrub Seeds Hardy, Easy to Grow, Fast Growth, Showy Ornamental Fruit, Fall Color, Edible Fruits, Attracts Birds, Wildlife Food/Shelter Decaisnea fargesii or Blue Sausage Fruit is an upright, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub and noted for its showy ornamental edible fruit. Decaisnea belongs to the chocolate vine family and is native from the Himalayas to western China. This shrub typically grows to 20 feet tall and as wide. The leaves are bright green odd-pinnate, which can be as long as 3 feet, emerging in mid-spring. The flowers are up to 2 inch, bright green-yellow, petal-less, blooming on pendent panicles, up to 18 inches long. Although individual flowers are not particularly showy, the large racemes in bloom are interesting and attractive. Flowers give way to the piece de resistance: cylindrical, bean like seed pods up to 6 inches long that ripen to dull metallic blue in fall. It is these fruits (actually fleshy follicles) that distinguish this plant. The common names of Dead Man's Fingers, Blue Sausage Fruit, Blue Cucumber Shrub and Blue Bean Tree all convey the general message that the fruits are quite interesting and unique. Fruits will split open at maturity to reveal a large mass of seeds imbedded in edible pulp with a sweet taste, but rather insipid. Lepchas (aboriginal inhabitants of Sikkim) relish this fruit, but it is not eaten much outside its native geographic range. Dead Man's Fingers is a surprisingly apt description of what the over-ripe fruit looks, and dare we say, feels like. This is a beautiful plant in its own right, but it really shines as an annual source of excellent Halloween decorations. This species was discovered by Pere Paul Guillaume Farges (1844-1912) who lived in China and collected and recorded plants there from 1867 until his death. Decaisnea was originally considered to have only two species, D. insignis and D. fargesii, with the only difference between the two being that the former had yellow green fruit and the latter had blue fruit. Today, some experts continue to list two different species (see Royal Horticultural Society), but others have combined both species into D. insignis (see Flora of China). Other Names: Blue Sausage Fruit Tree, Blue Bean Tree, Dead Man’s Fingers, Decaisnea insignis, Blue Cucumber Shrub Zone: Winter hardy to USDA Zone 6-9, but may be grown further north into USDA Zone 5 where it may die to the ground in winter with roots surviving to produce new growth in spring. Growth Rate: Fast Plant Type: Deciduous shrub or small tree Family: Lardizabalaceae Native Range: Western China Height: 12 to 20 feet Spread: 12 to 20 feet Shape: Upright, multi-stemmed Bloom Time: May - June Bloom Color: Yellow-green Flower/Fruit: Yellow-green flowers in drooping racemes followed by exceptional metallic blue bean-like fruit pods. Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade Fall Color: Yellow Drought Tolerance: Low Water: Medium Maintenance: Medium Site Requirements /Soil Tolerances: This shrub is not very hard to grow in cooler temperate climates, in a fertile, well-drained soil and it is quite frost hardy. It is intolerant of drought and hot summer climates. Keep soils consistently moist. Culture: Best protected from cold winds. Uses: Best in shrub borders or woodland gardens. Excellent Halloween decorations. Sowing Decaisnea fargesii, Seeds: For best results, please follow the instructions in the order provided. Scarify: Soak in water for 24 hours Stratify: Cold 90 days, 40 Degrees F in a Moist Medium (Not wet). Germination: Sow 1/2” Deep, Keep moist (Not wet). For more information about seed pretreatment and growing trees and shrubs from seed, please try the following links: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcpg018.pdf/$file/fcpg018.pdf Germination: Seeds Packets are labeled with seed name and sowing details. Seeds have not been pretreated unless specified in the listing. Seed is not a specific Cultivar (Variety) unless specified in the listing. Due to the many factors involved in successful germination, Seller cannot be responsible for buyers growing methods or mistakes. I have provided what I believe to be a good overview on this page (which you are free to print for further reference), however, it is still recommended to check specialist literature for more details and practices specific to your climate and soil conditions to avoid mistakes in the germination and growing process. Shipping and Discounts: All items are set up to automatically discount as follows: Any promotional offers are discounted by using the "Add to Cart "only.To qualify for any discounts, items must be paid together, on the same eCRATER invoice.If paid separately, no discounts will be applied though seller reserves the right to ship together.If there are any questions or concerns about the amount due, please message me before paying so I can address all of your concerns before there is a problem. Buyer assumes responsibility once payment has been made. International Buyer’s: It is the buyer’s responsibility to know their countries customs laws. Plant and plant materials including seeds may be restricted from importing to your country. Please check with your customs agency and or post office before purchasing. Upon purchasing this item Buyer accepts the risk of item being confiscated and/or destroyed by customs and Seller will not be held liable for this. If you are on my exclusion list it is because: “Plant and plant materials including seeds” are restricted from importing to your country, it is enforced by your country and there is a high rate of customs checking for this.