Enkianthus campanulatus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- en-kee-AN-thus kam-pan-yoo-LAH-tus
- Description
-
Enkianthus is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family with a narrowly upright habit of layered branches and tufted foliage. The name enkyos is Greek for the word pregnant and anthos means flower. This is in reference to the swollen urn shape of the flowers. Campanulatus is Latin for bell-shape also in reference to the flowers.
This shrub typically grows 6-8 feet tall but can reach heights of 16 feet. Plant it in full sun to partial shade in acidic, moist, organically rich, well-drained soil. It will suffer in dry weather and drought conditions but does well in clay soils.
The attractive late spring flowers appear on last year's growth so prune immediately after flowering to not remove next year's buds. The seed capsules are unusual-looking and are prized for dried arrangements. Expect fantastic yellow, red or orange fall leaf color ad excellent, smooth, warm brown bark that gives winter interest in the landscape. Plants are often vegetatively propagated to maintain their brilliant fall colors.
Plant as a specimen, along a foundation, or use in small groups in shrub borders. Rhododendrons have the same soil requirements so they are good planting companions.
Seasons of Interest:
Foliage: Fall Bark: Winter
Quick ID Hints:
- Seed capsules look like dried, upturned bells
- Leaves with hairy margins are crowded at branch tips
- Flowers are bell-shaped, nodding, in racemes
- Deciduous small tree or shrub, tiered branches
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Albiflorus'
- ‘Jan Iseli Pink’
- 'Red Bells'
- 'Renoir'
- 'Showy Lantern'
- 'Albiflorus'
- 'Albiflorus', ‘Jan Iseli Pink’, 'Red Bells', 'Renoir', 'Showy Lantern'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albiflorus'
- ‘Jan Iseli Pink’
- 'Red Bells'
- 'Renoir'
- 'Showy Lantern'
- 'Albiflorus'
- 'Albiflorus', ‘Jan Iseli Pink’, 'Red Bells', 'Renoir', 'Showy Lantern'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Enkianthus
- Species:
- campanulatus
- Family:
- Ericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- An ovoid, dehiscent capsule, 5-valved, borne upright on a recurved pedicel.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Urn
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- A cluster of creamy white, small 1/2" long, bell or urn-shaped flowers in pendulous racemes appear in spring. They have red or pink veins and edges; borne on the previous year's growth. Blooms are similar to Pieris, which is in the same family. Corymbose raceme, pendulous, terminal. (5-15) pale cream to light orange, veined with red, fragrant, corolla campanulate, 5-lobed.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Glossy, bright to medium blue-green to olive green leaves clustered at the ends of branches. Brilliant yellow and red-orange fall color that varies among seedlings. Alternate leaves are crowded at end of branches, simple, elliptic to obovate, acuminate, cuneate, serrate with aristate teeth, scattered bristly hairs above and on veins beneath, 1 to 3.5 inches long.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth brown bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Slender, tiered, reddish to brown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Small Tree
