Chinese quinine is an evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves in the hydrangea family. It is native to southeast Asia and prefers to grow in partial shade in moist, well-drained, rich soils. The plants prefer acidic soils but can grow in any soil pH, which will have an effect on the flower color. Flowers will be dark blue in acidic soils and pale blue to lilac in alkaline soils. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, and will not tolerate standing water or drought. This plant can be an attractive accent shrub for lightly shaded borders or foundations and may also be planted as an informal hedge for screening.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The 4-8" long deep green leaf has prominent veins and small serrations
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Bi-color flowers (outsides are white but insides are blue) with reflexed petals bloom in June-July in terminal inflorescences to 3-6” diameter. The blue color will be dark in acidic soils and pale blue or lilac in alkaline soils
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Blue
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Round gentian blue berries (1/3” diameter) mature in late summer and remain on the plant into winter
Bark color
Light Brown
Stem color
Cream/Tan; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
reddish tan stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China, Tibet, India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia
Wildlife value
Fruit attracts birds.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Songbirds
Play value
Colorful; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Berry
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used in Chinese medicine for the reduction of fevers. The root has also been used to treat malaria. The chemical compound febrifugine, derived from this species, is being studied for therapeutic uses to treat cancer and fibrosis. It has also been used to lower blood pressure, relieve chest congestion, and against flu, and intestinal bacterial infections.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Butterfly Garden; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden