Native to Central and Eastern China, but apparently is rather rare and may no longer exist in the wild. In the deep south, Heptacodium benefits from pine shade, but seems to suffer in full sun. The name Heptacodium or Seven Son Flower literally means "seven heads" referring to the flower formation. Bark: Gray brown to reddish brown, exfoliating on 1/2 - 1 inch diameter stems revealing a lighter inner bark. Foliage: Opposite, simple, 3 - 6 inches long and 2 - 2 1/4 inches wide. Leaves emerge in late March, soft green maturing to dark green and holding late into November. No significant fall color, yellow at best. Flowers: Buds appear in early summer but do not open until August and linger into September. Flowers are creamy white, fragrant and are borne in 6 inch long terminal panicles. Not showy. Fruit: Capsule with sepals that persist and change from green to rose-purple and last for 2-3 weeks. The fruit ripening is far more exciting than that of the flowers.
| Tree ID Number: | 1192 |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Heptacodium miconioides |
| Mature Height: | 15-20 ft |
| Canopy Spread (Diameter): | 7-10 ft |
| Branching Shape: | Upright, irregular, loose, and open |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Wood Strength: | |
| Cold Hardiness Zone: | 5-8 |
| Soil Moisture Requirements: | Moist |
| Light Requirements: | Sun, Part or Dappled Shade |
| Common Pests: | None serious in Arkansas. Cankers can occasionally cause problems. |
| Comments: | Mixed border, hedge, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree if trained. |
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