The gas plant is an upright perennial, hardy in Zones 3-8, that blooms in late spring to early summer with small white or pink flowers. It does well in northern climates with cool nights and tolerates light shade. Gas plants like to be left alone to grow, and don’t like to be disturbed once planted.
The gas plant is in the same family as citrus plants, but it boasts flowers that begin at the tips of stems and form tall spikes of fragrant pink or white five-petal blossoms. The pink varieties often feature darker or red colors along the veins, creating feather-like patterns. After blooming, the flowers will give way to star-shaped seed heads that provide ornamental interest when left on the plant.
Another common name for the gas plant is burning bush. Both names refer to the highly flammable oil produced by the plant. This oil can volatilize and create a gas around the plant on hot, windless days. When lit with a match or lighter, this gas goes up in quick flames, enveloping the plant in a burst of fire, but not consuming it. The gas plant can also spontaneously burst into flames on very hot, dry days. In most cases, the oil burns off too quickly to damage the plant, but surrounding plants could be harmed—particularly in dry conditions.
It should also be noted that contact with the plant can cause photodermatitis in some people—a condition that is said to mimic the look and discomfort of poison ivy. It’s best to wear gloves, arm coverings, and other protective gear when working near or handling this perennial.
Gas Plant Overview
Where to Plant Gas Plant
Native to open woodland habitats, gas plant grows best in well-drained soil. For the most vigorous flowering, place your gas plant in full sun. It can tolerate some shade, especially in warmer climates. Gas plants develop a long taproot, which makes them difficult to relocate or divide, so it’s best to choose a spot where you can reasonably leave the plant to grow and thrive for the duration of its lifecycle—which could be decades.
Because of the flammable nature of this plant, it’s advisable to grow it at a distance from any buildings and to avoid planting it in locations where wildfires can occur.
How and When to Plant Gas Plant
If you want to start new plants, they can be grown from seed but may take about three to four years to flower. Gas plants are slow to establish in the garden, but once they do, they'll be long-lived and low maintenance.
Plant gas plant seedlings in late spring or early summer when the soil is warm, and the danger of frost has passed. Dig a hole as deep and wide as the pot you are transplanting your seedlings from and add some compost with the soil around the plant as you backfill. Allow approximately 24 to 36 inches of space between plants so they have room to reach their full height of up to 3 feet tall and wide.
Gas Plant Care Tips
The sensitive root system of gas plant can make it challenging to establish plants, but once they're settled, they'll be around for a long time.
Light
Gas plant needs plenty of sun, but in areas where it gets very hot during the summer, partial shade during the afternoon is beneficial.
Soil and Water
Ideally, it prefers to be planted in humus-rich, well-drained soil that does not become soggy but remains evenly moist. Once a gas plant is established, it can handle some droughts due to its long taproot, but during extended dry periods, it should be watered.
Temperature and Humidity
The best climate for gas plant is warm days with cooler nights. In warmer climates, especially during droughts, the plant may go dormant and return once temperatures fall.
Fertilizer
Gas plants grow in poor soil, so they don't need regular fertilizing, though you can use an organic product once each spring. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.
Pruning
You can cut back dead and diseased shoots, but the plant will thrive without additional pruning. Flowers should bloom from late spring to early summer and after that, pretty seed heads will emerge. These seed heads provide ornamental interest to the plant and—if left untouched—a food resource for visiting birds. If you do decide to prune, put on gloves and protective arm coverings and cut the plant back to the base in the fall. Be aware that the seeds may eject from the pods when you touch them, so it’s best to place a bag over them before pruning if you wish to save them. You can also cut back the plant in early spring when the irritants on the plant will be less active (but gloves are still recommended).
Pests and Problems
Gas plants are largely immune to most plant diseases, so the only issues they encounter are from the occasional garden pest—and even that is uncommon. Use a blast of water from a hose to get rid of them, or if that doesn't work, try insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Slugs and snails, in particular, are fond of young gas plants—especially new shoots and leaves. Pluck them off if you notice them (while wearing gloves) and scatter some eggshells around the base of the plant to deter them from coming back.
How to Propagate Gas Plant
Once planted, make sure to leave the gas plant where it is. It forms woody roots and does not tolerate transplanting or root disturbance. Because of this, gas plants should be sowed from seed as opposed to division or cuttings.
To do so with the seeds of your own plants, you will need to put the seeds through a stratification process. Place your harvested seeds in a bag with some moist pearlite and keep them in a warm place (around 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit) for several weeks to a month. Be sure to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soaked. After that, put the bag into the refrigerator for another 4 to 6 weeks. Do not store the seeds any longer or they may fail to germinate.
Sow the stratified seeds into a tray with a layer of moist potting mix and sprinkle a light layer of soil over the seeds, but do not completely cover them. Cover the pot or tray with plastic wrap to create a mini greenhouse and place it in a warm area (again around 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit). Keep the substrate consistently and evenly moist until germination—which may take 6 months to a year. If after 2 months, none of the seeds have germinated, you can place the entire tray in the refrigerator for another 4 to 6 weeks and duplicate your initial process. Once the seedlings emerge, if you can, let them grow in a greenhouse for their first winter and then place them in the ground in late spring or early summer.
Types of Gas Plant
Purple Gas Plant
Dictamnus albus 'Purpureus' has purplish-pink flowers with dark veins and stems. As with all forms of gas plant, it is slow to establish. Zones 3-8
White Gas Plant
This variety of Dictamnus albus has white flower spikes that develop into star-shaped, nut-brown seed pods in fall. Zones 3-8
Gas Plant Companion Plants
Peony
Perhaps the best-loved perennials, herbaceous peonies belong in almost every garden. Their flowers—single, semidouble, anemone centered or Japanese, and fully double—come in glorious shades of pink, red, white, and yellow. The foliage is usually dark green and remains good-looking all season long. These are hardly fussy plants. Where well suited to the climate, they can thrive on zero care. Zones 3-8
Iris
Named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, perennial iris comes in a rainbow of colors and many heights. All have the classic, intricate flowers constructed with three upright "standard" petals and three drooping "fall" petals, often different colors. The falls may be "bearded" or not. Some cultivars bloom a second time in late summer. Zones 3-9
Daylily
Daylilies are so easy to grow you'll often find them growing in ditches and fields. And yet they look so delicate, producing trumpet-shaped blooms in myriad colors. There are some 50,000 named perennial hybrid cultivars in various flower sizes (the minis are very popular), forms, and plant heights. Some are fragrant. The flowers are borne on leafless stems. Although each bloom lasts a single day, superior cultivars carry numerous buds on each scape, so bloom time is long, especially if you deadhead daily. The strappy foliage may be evergreen or deciduous. Zones 3-10
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do gas plants have a scent?Flowers of the gas plant have a lovely fragrance with citrusy overtones. Its glossy compound leaves in a rich green color release a lemony fragrance when crushed or bruised.
Flowers of the gas plant have a lovely fragrance with citrusy overtones. Its glossy compound leaves in a rich green color release a lemony fragrance when crushed or bruised.
- Can a gas plant be grown in containers?While the gas plant can grow in a container with proper drainage and humus-rich soil, even a large pot may not prove suitable for the plant’s sturdy taproot once the plant reaches maturity. Also, since the gas plant is largely intolerant of transportation, it may not survive repotting if you discover that the container it is growing in is insufficient. It should also be noted that in cooler climates, the walls of a planter may not provide enough protection from icy temperatures.
While the gas plant can grow in a container with proper drainage and humus-rich soil, even a large pot may not prove suitable for the plant’s sturdy taproot once the plant reaches maturity. Also, since the gas plant is largely intolerant of transportation, it may not survive repotting if you discover that the container it is growing in is insufficient. It should also be noted that in cooler climates, the walls of a planter may not provide enough protection from icy temperatures.
- How long do gas plants live?Gas plants are slow to establish, but in the right growing conditions, they can live up to 50 years.
Gas plants are slow to establish, but in the right growing conditions, they can live up to 50 years.