Heptacodium miconioides

Seven-son flower

Location

The Tennis Court Garden.

Description:

A member of the honeysuckle family, native to the Zhejiang Province of China, this rarely seen large shrub 3m x 3m (10ft x 10ft) blooms in late summer to early autumn. Its arching frame is covered with creamy white, fragrant flowers replaced by stunning burgundy capsules and flower-like sepals until mid-November.  In winter, the bark of older plants is textured grey, while new branches are the darkest lacquer-red. First introduced in the early 20C it remained obscure until the 1980s.

Site and Care:

Fast growing it thrives in most garden soil in sun or partial shade. Pruning is necessary, in early spring, especially when the plant is young. Prune early as the flower buds form in spring and slowly mature over the summer, so an untimely pruning would certainly sacrifice autumn bloom.  Propagation is by softwood or hardwood cuttings or by seed.