Common Bladdernut

Grown for its flowers and curious, bladder-like fruit, Staphylea pinnata is a large, vigorous, deciduous shrub with sturdy shoots and an upright, spreading habit. The dark green leaves are divided into 5-7 oval leaflets. In late spring and early summer, long, hanging racemes of lightly scented, bell-shaped white flowers tinged with pink emerge from pink buds.These are followed by inflated, pale green, lobed fruit, the bladder nuts of the name. Common bladdernut is an easy, low maintenance, trouble-free shrub.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Any moist but well drained soil
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of interest: Late spring and summer
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 16 (5m) Spread: 16 (5m)