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Heptacodium miconioides

Heptacodium miconioides

Seven-son flower, Autumn lilac

synonym Heptacodium jasminoides 'Airy Shaw'

Description

Heptacodium miconioides (Seven-son flower, Autumn lilac) was discovered by English plant collector and botanist Ernest Wilson in the Chinese province Hubei in July 1907, and then described by the German botanist Alfred Rehder. The tree wasn’t distributed until 1980, by seeds from the botanical garden in Hangzhou, China. The seven-son flower is rarely found in nature, and occurs in small populations in the Chinese provinces Anhui and Zhejiang. What is remarkable about this tree is that it grows to be larger in cultivation than in nature. The species grows to a maximum of 8 metres tall, and 6 metres wide. It forms an irregular, round to vase-shaped crown. 

The cream-white bark of the Heptacodium miconioides that peels off in long sheets is lovely to see year-round, but is particularly striking in winter. The tree has a tropical look to it with three parallel, reddish veins on dark green, smooth-edged and undulating leaves. The foliage sometimes turns a purply green in autumn. Despite Alfred Rehder calling the species Heptacodium (Hepta meaning ‘seven’ in Greek), each panicle has six flowers. The buds already appear in June, after which the fragrant flowers appear in late August, and stay on the tree until early October. With its late, rich blossoms, the species is not only beautiful for people to see; it is also very valuable to bees. After blooming, the tree bears striking, red-violet fruit that stays on the tree for a long time.

Heptacodium miconioides is often used as a multi-stem tree in gardens and park-like settings, where the tree adds great decorative value all year long. However, the species is also suitable for use as a standard tree or a low shrub, and can even be cut as a bonsai. The seven-on flower is healthiest when it can grow in moist, humous, but permeable soil, can handle drought quite well and is not susceptible to any plagues or diseases. Though the tree can tolerate quite a lot of shade, the fruit will only turn red in sunny environments.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees half-stem trees multi-stemmed trees characteristic trees solitary shrubs

Topiary on stem

fval multi-stem umbrella

Use

Location

park central reservation large garden small garden patio cemetery

Pavement

none none

Planting concepts

prairie planting

Characteristics

Crown shape

wide vase-shaped wide vase-shaped

Crown structure

semi-open semi-open

Height

4 - 8 m

Width

3 - 6 m

Winter hardiness zone

5A - 9B

Aspects

Wind

slightly tolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay light clay sand loamy soil

Nutrient level

moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

dry moist

Light requirements

sun partial shade

pH range

acidic

Host plant/forage plant

bees butterflies birds nectar value 1 pollen value 0

Extreme environments

tolerant to dryness

Get to know Ebben Nurseries

Visit our nurseries with multi-stem trees, climbing trees, trees for avenues and parks characteristic trees and solitary shrubs.

Make an appointment

Place order or further information?

Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Heptacodium miconioides? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
Call +31(0) 485 31 20 21 or email one of our advisors directly.
Our planting advisors

Photos

Magnify

Seasonal colours

Heptacodium miconioides seizoenskleur
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Flowers

Flowers

panicle striking standing scented

Flower colour

white

Flowering period

August - October

Leaves

Leaf colour

dark green

Leaves

deciduous lanceolate matt polished undulate

Autumn colour

brown violet

Fruits

Fruit colour

red-violet

Fruits

striking berry

Bark

Bark colour

golden yellow pale brown

Bark

peeling

Twigs

Twig colour

golden yellow

Twigs

bare

Root system

Root system

shallow

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Geographic location
Winter hardiness zone
OK
Coastal area
OK
Use
Location
OK
Pavement
OK
Host plant/forage plant
OK
Planting concepts
OK
Types of planting
Tree types
OK
Multi-stemmed trees
OK
Crown structure
OK
Crown shape
OK
Topiary on stem
OK
Topiary
OK
Height
m
-
m
OK
Width
m
-
m
OK
Aspects
Wind
OK
Soil
OK
Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
OK
Light requirements
OK
PH range
OK
Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
January
-
December
OK
Flower colour
OK
Leaf colour
OK
Autumn colour
OK
Fruit colour
OK
Bark colour
OK
Special features
OK
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