Plant DetailShow Menu

Staphylea x elegans

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
staf-fy-LAY-a ELL-eh-ganz
Description

Staphylea x elegans, or Elegans Bladdernut, is deciduous, flowering shrub or small tree that can reach heights of 15 to 20 feet and a similar width. Staphylea × elegans is a hybrid of unknown origin, but probably fits in between S. colchica and S. pinnata and is considered a subtropical plant that is cold hardy to about 30 degrees F for short periods. However, like all species of Staphylea, the plant has dainty leaves, an upright habit and terminal panicles of white flowers in early or mid spring. The flowers are attractive in themselves; however, through the summer, the flower panicles develop large green bladders that turn pink and red in the autumn. If stored over winter these germinate quickly in the spring.

The plant grows best in full sun or partial shade, although flowering will be encouraged with full sun. The flowers are white, or off white, and appear on terminal panicles. The plant will attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or problems.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#deciduous#shrub#flowering shrub#butterfly friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#deciduous#shrub#flowering shrub#butterfly friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Staphylea
    Family:
    Staphyleaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Ascending
    Dense
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Flower panicles develop large green bladders of up to 2 inches in size that turn red in the fall. The bladders are sometimes called chinese lanterns and can be opened to extract the seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    White flowers bloom on terminal panicle in early or mid spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Dainty green pinnate leaves with three, five or seven leaflets.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Flowering Tree
    Small Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds