Dead man's fingers, Blue sausage fruit dead-mans-fingers Dead-man's-fingers (Decaisnea) is a striking large shrub producing pendant clusters of blue, sausage-like pods in autumn. The translucent, jelly-like pulp is edible, mildly sweet with a melon/lychee note; seeds are hard and typically not eaten. Deciduous, with large, tropical-looking pinnate leaves giving a lush texture through the season. It is hardy and tolerant once established, preferring a sheltered, sunny position to ripen fruit well. Growing conditions LightFull sun to light shade; best fruiting in full sun with shelter from cold winds. Soil typeMoist but well-drained, humus-rich loam or sandy loam; tolerates clay if drainage is improved. Water requirementModerate; keep evenly moist, especially during establishment and fruit set. Nutrient requirementLow to moderate; benefits from annual compost mulch rather than heavy feeding. Back to plant list
