Plant Details

Decaisnea fargesii

Blue sausage fruit

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Decaisnea fargesii.

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Common names

12 names · 11 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Blue sausage fruit
Other languages (10)
Dutch
  • Augurkenstruik
French
  • Arbre à saucisses
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • dekaisnea Fargesova[1]
Danish
English Creole
  • blue sausage fruit[1]
Finnish
  • sininarrinpensas[1]
Russian
  • Декенея замечательная[1]
Slovak
  • dekénea Fargesova[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Decaisnea fargesii — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • dekaisnea Fargesova — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 920179; Decaisnea fargesii.
  • 矮妃樹 — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 920179; Decaisnea fargesii.
  • 貓兒屎 — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 920179; Decaisnea fargesii.
  • blue sausage fruit — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 920179; Decaisnea fargesii.
  • Декенея замечательная — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 920179; Decaisnea fargesii.
  • blåbælg — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 920179; Decaisnea fargesii.
  • 矮杞树 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 920179; Decaisnea fargesii.
  • sininarrinpensas — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 920179; Decaisnea fargesii.
  • dekénea Fargesova — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 920179; Decaisnea fargesii.

General information

Scientific name: Decaisnea fargesii
Accepted name (Kew): Decaisnea fargesii Franch. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Lardizabalaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Decaisnea (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Blue sausage fruit
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 4.00 m
Spread: 4.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
None

Description

Raw fruit - It has a sweet but mild flavor. Our taste buds experience it as delicate and beautiful. The fruit resembles a bright blue pod or bean and can grow up to 10 cm long. Removing the skin is done in a similar way to shelling a bean, revealing a row of seeds that runs the entire length of the fruit, surrounded by a thin layer of pulp.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1301764; name ID 517439; Decaisnea Hook.f. & Thomson. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1301766; name ID 517440; Decaisnea fargesii Franch..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Decaisnea fargesii

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 52638, ID 34CRL: Decaisnea fargesii Franch. (accepted).

    Source checked on .