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Why doesn’t my schisandra flower?

Lynne102Lynne102 Posts: 6
in Problem solving
I bought a schisandra nearly 14 years ago because I had seen one on the side of a country house with its beautiful red flowers and I thoughts I would love one of those.
I bought it from a well respected nursery, took it home to SW Scotland and planted it in a semi shaded position, free draining soil. It grew very well with lots of buds but they all turned out to be leaf axils. 
Over the years, every bud has turned out to be a leaf. I have tried pruning it back so it grew on New Years wood, same result. I didn’t prune it so leaving it to see if it would flower on last years wood. Same result.
I tried moving it to full sun, nothing. Feeding it, starving it, everything I could think of to persuade it to flower but to no avail. 
I have now been told that to make them flower you need two plants, male and female. I know that when I bought it, the label said you would have lovely red flowers and NO mention was made of male and female plants. 
I do not know where the plant label is so can anybody help please:
Do I need male and female plants,
If yes, how do I find out which one I have so I can get the other one,
If not, any suggestions why my plant doesn’t flower. 
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It's not a plant I've ever heard of but according to the RHS, male and female flowers both grow on a single plant.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/16806/i-schisandra-rubriflora-i/details

    I have no idea why it's not flowering for you though. I hope someone can help.
    Posting a photo or two of the plant and close up of leaves may give others some ideas to help you.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Not a plant I know … but some info here which may (or may not) be of help … Burncoose are highly able and we’ll respected so may be able to offer advice 

    https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/content.cfm?ref=Schisandra+-+Growing+Guide 

    Good luck 🤞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Lynne102Lynne102 Posts: 6
    Thanks to both Pete.8 and Dovefromabove for your suggestions. Both sites say the plant may have both male and female flowers on the same plant or they may be on different plants. It appears I have the latter. 
    Probably the answer is to look for another plant which is flowering and just hope I can find both male and female flowers on the plant! 
    Thanks again for the suggestions.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Having flowers of both sexes will affect fruiting but not flowering. 

    However it may be that, as in some other cases, the flowers of one gender are small and inconspicuous … and it may be that it’s the female ones … if so you may not notice them … and if there’s no male flowers to pollinate them any female flowers that are there will not produce fruit. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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