Heptacodium miconioides

Name: Heptacodium miconioides.

Common name: Seven-son flower.

Description: Native to China, this flowering shrub has creamy blossoms, each containing seven tiny flowers that attract bees and butterflies. The showy, purplish-red sepals that follow give the appearance of another period of bloom. Peeling bark is especially attractive in winter. Leaves are narrow, shiny, ovate-oblong and medium-green. H. miconioides is a large, fountain-shaped, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that typically grows 15-20 feet tall at maturity with a 10-foot spread. It may also be trained as a single-trunk tree.

Culture: Grows in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils.

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9.

Landscape Use: Because of its year-round interest, it’s a great choice for any type of landscape. Use in a shrub border or woodland garden. It’s also excellent as a lawn specimn or accent shrub or tree.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Plant Propagators