Plant Library

Description:

An uncommon shrubby tree which is gaining popularity because of its late summer white flowers followed by pink-red fruits in fall; Tan peeling bark also adds to the interest.

Ornamental Features

Seven-Son Flower is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. It features abundant showy pink capsules from mid to late fall. It has panicles of lightly-scented creamy white flowers at the ends of the branches from late summer to mid fall, which are interesting on close inspection. It has forest green deciduous foliage which emerges lime green in spring. The pointy leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. The shaggy antique red bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Seven-Son Flower is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Seven-Son Flower is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting

Planting & Growing

Seven-Son Flower will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.