American bladdernut is admirable because of its glossy, attractive, three-part leaves and curious-looking fruits. This variably medium to large shrub, rarely a small tree, is naturally found in moist-soil woodlands, especially along stream banks. It's native to southeastern North America, east of the Great Plains from Ontario to the Florida Panhandle. It attains an upright habit with somewhat spreading branches.
American bladdernut's bark is mainly smooth and a mottled blend of gray-tan and white. The dark green leaves emerge in spring, maturing into distinctly three-leaflet leaves. Each toothed leaflet is an attractively shaped oval-teardrop with pointed tip. Leaflet undersides are faintly hairy and lighter green. In mid-spring, pendent clusters of tiny white flowers dangle from the branches. After pollination, the bladder-like fruits form. They look somewhat like three-lobed eggs or small inflated air bags. They change from light green to tan by early winter. The shrub's foliage only becomes a pale yellow before dropping away.
Grow American bladdernut in practically any well-drained soil, but best performance occurs in evenly moist, humusy ground. This shrub is fast growing and may develop into a small thicket. Grow it in partial to full shade; in cooler summer regions, partial sun is okay. American bladdernut is a pretty addition to a woodland garden or shaded mixed border. Allow it to naturalize on slopes above streams or lakes under the protective covering of larger shade trees. The foliage is always pretty to view up close, and the bladder-like fruits always pique the curiosity of passers-by. (info source: Learn2Grow.com)
Genus - Staphylea
Species - Trifoliate
Common name - American Bladdernut
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 3 - 8
Height - 10'-20' / 3 - 6 m
Spread - 10'-20' / 3 - 6 m
Plant type - Shrub
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Partial Shade, Full Shade
Growth rate - Fast
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Clay, laom, Sand, well drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Ornamental, Mixed Border
Germination rate - 85
Bloom season - Spring
Leaf / Flower color - Green, Dark Green / White
Useful Info | |
Germination | 1. Nick the seed coat carefully with sharp knife and soak in very warm water for 24 hours. 2. Cold stratify in moist vermiculite or sterile soil in airtight bags for 90 days at +2-+4C (in refrigerator). 3. After the pretreatment: sow seed 5-7 mm deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed. |