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Perennial · Hydrangeaceae family

Yellow wax bells

Kirengeshoma palmata

Part shade to shade 0.5–0.7 m × 0.5–1 m Flowers August–October to −23 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

LightPart shade to shade
Size0.5–0.7 m
spacing 58 cm
FlowersAugust–October
PlantingMarch–May, September–November
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Light, soil and water.

It grows best in part shade to shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic soil
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moisthumus-richloamy

Watering

keep the soil evenly moistless when it rains

Frost

−23 °C
no winter protectiondies back in winter, regrows in spring

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

50 cm1 m1.5 m0.5–0.7 mspread 0.5–1 m
0.5–0.7 m× spread 0.5–1 m

Plant 58 cm apart.

Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

August–October · yellow

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–May, September–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

March–May

Feeding

Nutrition.

Light
balanced fertilisercompost or mulch
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

What you will see

Eaten holes in leaves and young shoots, at night and in damp weather. Mainly young shoots.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water in the morning, not in the evening.
    • In winter turn over the soil and remove fallen leaves — birds will pick out the eggs.
    • Encourage natural enemies (birds, toads, hedgehogs, ground beetles).
  2. By hand evening, spring to autumnCollect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight on a warm, damp night; traps made of hollowed-out citrus peel or small containers of beer sunk into the soil — empty them in the morning.
  3. Biological spring to early autumnPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes (they work on slugs, hardly on snails); apply to moist soil at 5–20 °C.
Slugs and snailspest

What you will see

Eaten holes in leaves and young shoots, at night and in damp weather. Mainly young shoots.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Water in the morning, not in the evening.
    • In winter turn over the soil and remove fallen leaves — birds will pick out the eggs.
    • Encourage natural enemies (birds, toads, hedgehogs, ground beetles).
  2. By hand evening, spring to autumnCollect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight on a warm, damp night; traps made of hollowed-out citrus peel or small containers of beer sunk into the soil — empty them in the morning.
  3. Biological spring to early autumnPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes (they work on slugs, hardly on snails); apply to moist soil at 5–20 °C.
More about this problem
Sources (2)

What to combine it with

Same needs, different flowering.

They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does yellow wax bells flower?

In August–October; the flowers are yellow.

Does yellow wax bells tolerate shade?

Yes, it tolerates full shade.

How much space does yellow wax bells need?

At maturity 0.5–1 m wide and 0.5–0.7 m tall; recommended spacing 58 cm.

Slugs and snails — what can you do?

Water in the morning, not in the evening. Collect slugs and snails in the evening by torchlight on a warm, damp night; traps made of hollowed-out citrus peel or small containers of beer sunk into the soil — empty them in the morning.

Sources (13) Checked 28 September 2026

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