Heptacodium miconioides

Seven Sons Flower

Deciduous Shrub

"Outstanding Qualities
Heptacodium miconioides is a somewhat rare and unique plant with wonderful year-round interest. In late summer it features terminal clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers that appear in whorls within each branched cluster. The blooms are followed in fall by an equally showy display of small, purplish-red fruits, that are a half-inch-long and crowned with five very showy, sepal-like rose calyces that last into late fall. For winter interest, Heptacodium miconioides' tan bark exfoliates to reveal an attractive chocolate-brown inner bark. This plant is excellent used as a lawn specimen, or as a focal point around the home, or in a shrub border or woodland garden. Seven-son flower looks great underplanted with ornamental grasses such as Hakonechloa.

Culture Notes
Heptacodium miconioides grows best in well drained soil, although it will tolerate sandy soils and clay. Plant it in a location with full sun to light or open shade. It is best as a multi-stemmed plant. One or two of the older stems can be cut to 6 to 12 inches tall every year to maintain the plant as a large shrub. Alternatively three to five stems can be selected and pruned up to create a small tree." —Courtesy Great Plant Picks

Growing Conditions

Zone: 6, 7, 8, 9

Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade

Water Needs: Average, Occasional

Description

Size: 120 - 240 tall x 72 - 120 wide
Shape / Form: Irregular, Upright
Foliage Texture: Coarse
Foliage Quality: Coarse

Features: Attractive Bark or Stem, Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Fall Color, Flowers, Fragrant, Long Blooming, Showy Fruit or Berry, Year-round Interest, Exfoliating Bark

Foliage Color: Green

Flower Color: White, Ivory / Cream
Bloom Season: Summer
Flower Shape: Cluster

Fruit Description: Showy / Decorative, Red
Fruit Description: Tan

Uses and Applications

Landscape Uses: Mixed Border, Small Gardens, Specimen
Special Situations: Courtyard / Urban Garden
Wildlife: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

More Design Considerations

Season of Interest: Pleasing Seasonal Changes, Year-round Interest, Three Seasons of Interest
Position / Role: canopy
Plant Behavior: Fast Growing / Vigorous
Collections: Great Plant Pick

Care and Maintenance

Maintenance Level: medium

Perfect Partners

Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' | Gold Variegated Japanese forest grass