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Bumald Bladdernut Staphylea bumalda

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Bumalda trifolia
Phonetic Spelling
staf-fy-LAY-a boo-MAHL-dah
Description

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:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#fragrant flowers#shrub#deciduous shrub#showy fruits#moist soil#frost tolerant#naturalizes#pollinator plant#naturalized area#suckers#dry soils intolerant#shrub borders#suckering shrub#suckering#hedge#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#fragrant flowers#shrub#deciduous shrub#showy fruits#moist soil#frost tolerant#naturalizes#pollinator plant#naturalized area#suckers#dry soils intolerant#shrub borders#suckering shrub#suckering#hedge#woodland
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Bark Description:
    The smooth, brown bark has a slight texture appearing as vertical stripes.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Multistemmed suckering habit.
  • 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