Staphylea colchica ( Bladdernut, Caucasian Bladdernut)
Botanical Information
Family | Staphyleaceae |
Genus | Staphylea |
Species | colchica |
Category | Woody |
Type | Shrub (deciduous) |
Origin | Native to forests in the southern Caucasus mountains. |
Details
USDA Hardiness Zone | 6 - 7 |
USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
Canadian Hardiness Zone | 7 - 8 |
Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
RHS Hardiness Zone | H7 - H5 |
RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
Temperature (°C) | (-20) - (-10) |
Temperature (°F) | (-4) - (14) |
Height | 3 - 4.5 m |
Spread | 3 - 4.5 m |
Flowering Period | May, June |
Description and Growing Information
General Description | Leaves on flowering stems tend to have 3 leaflets, but all other leaves tend to have 5 leaflets. |
Landscape | Shrub borders, woodland margins, shade gardens, naturalized areas, and hedges. |
Propagation | Propagate by seed, cuttings and suckers. |
Cultivation | Grow in evenly moist, rich, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in part shade. |
Pests | Leaf spot and twig blight. |
Notable Specimens | Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom. |
Habitat | It is native to forests at elevations up to 1220m in the southern Caucasus mountains. |
Leaf Description | Pinnate compound leaves have 3-5 ovate-oblong, hairless, green leaflets each to 10 cm long with fine serrate margins and glabrous glossy undersides. |
Flower Description | Bell-shaped, five-petaled, greenish-white flowers each to 1.5 cm across; bloom in spring (May-June) in erect to nodding terminal panicles. |
Fruit Description | A Inflated, baggy, two- lobed to three-lobed fruit (seed pods to 10 cm wide) which are commonly characterized as being "bladder-like" in appearance, hence the common name of bladdernut. Each pod contains several hard rounded seeds. Pods are curiously attractive and remain visible on the shrub in summer and fall. |
Texture Description | Flowers have a pleasing fragrance which is reminiscent of orange blossoms. |
Photographs
Staphylea colchica, form, Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Staphylea colchica, leaf, Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Staphylea colchica, flower cluster, Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Staphylea colchica, bark, Caerhays Castle, Goran, Cornwall, United Kingdom.