Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Datisca cannabina
False Hemp
- Family
- Datiscaceae
- Height
- 6-10 feet tall
- Width
- 3-5 feet wide
- Flower color
- Yellow-green, inconspicuous flowers in long, pendulous clusters
- Foliage color
- Deep green, pinnate leaves
- Bloom time
- Late summer
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate to high
- Maintenance
- Low; minimal pruning, may need staking due to height
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 5-9
- Wildlife
- Attracts pollinators, especially bees
About this plant
Datisca cannabina, also known as false hemp, is a tall perennial that produces feathery clusters of yellow-green flowers in late summer, adding an airy, textural element to garden beds. The plant's slender, pendulous flower clusters are complemented by deeply lobed, fern-like foliage, giving it a lush, ornamental quality. Its blooms mature into delicate, tassel-like seed heads that lend additional visual interest through autumn.
Native to regions stretching from the Mediterranean to the Himalayas, Datisca cannabina has a history of being cultivated for its resemblance to hemp and its traditional uses in dye-making. This robust plant is well-suited to naturalized or wildflower gardens, where its height and distinct form can create a soft, natural screen or provide vertical interest. Its unique foliage and flower structure make it a visually compelling choice for gardeners looking to add depth to informal, wild-inspired plantings.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Rain Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Hellebores · Hardy geraniums · Hostas · Ferns · Astilbes · Foxgloves
Design tip
Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Center for Urban Horticulture and in the perennial border at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
