Staphylea bumalda
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Bumalda trifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- staf-FEE-lee-ah boo-MAHL-dah
- Description
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Bumald Blatternut gets its common name from its fruits that resemble a bladder. A deciduous shrub that has a multistemmed suckering habit. It prefers full sun, however will also do well in partial or light shade and consistently moist soils. Plant as a hedge or use it in a shrub border or woodland garden.
Its natural habitat includes forests, along streams, and in thickets. It will thrive in a variety of soil conditions, providing that the soil is not too dry. The optimum growing conditions include rich loamy soil in full sun to part shade.
The best flowering occurs in the year following a hot summer.
The edible leaves can be boiled in salted oil. It's not a typical menu choice, most often eaten when other foods are not available. It can be dried for future consumption.
Its wood can be harvested and used in construction.
Oils obtained from the seeds are used for the creation of soaps and paint.
This plant, as well as others in this genus, has a high resistance to honey fungus.
Typically not susceptible to wind damage.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Twig blight and leaf spot are occasional diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Staphylea
- Species:
- bumalda
- Family:
- Staphyleaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Edible, buffer, shade
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan, China, Korea
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers attract pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Shade
- Edibility:
- The leaves are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Inflated seed capsules resembling a bladder follow the flowers. The fruits are green when they emerge, drying and turning brown as they age. The seeds have a yellow tint.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Mildly fragrant, reddish panicles of small, dull to creamy white flowers appear from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Each leaf is composed of three elliptic to lance-shaped leaflets up to 2" long. The tips taper to a point. The upper side is a darker green than the underside. The underside also has persistent hairs on the veins.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Bark Description:
- The smooth, brown bark has a slight texture appearing as vertical stripes.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Multistemmed suckering habit.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Insect Pests
- Wind