Staphylea x elegans
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- staf-FEE-lee-ah 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:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
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
