Bladdernut
Staphylea trifolia
Fragrant white spring bells, then papery lantern-like pods that rattle through summer and fall. A slow colony-former for moist shade.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Sep 248 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Sep 258 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Sep 268 AM – 2 PM
Fragrant spring bells followed by rattling papery lanterns through summer. bladdernut is the native shrub that makes people stop and ask what it is.
Bladdernut is one of those native shrubs that rewards the gardener who pays attention. Clusters of white bell-shaped flowers hang from arching branches in spring, fragrant and attractive to native bees at a time when the understory calendar is still filling up. What follows is even more unusual: inflated papery green seed pods, like small Chinese lanterns, rattle in the breeze through summer and fall. They're botanical novelties, and genuinely beautiful. This is a shrub for shaded or partially shaded spots near a stream or in a moist woodland edge. It spreads slowly by suckers to form a colony over time, excellent for slope stabilization or naturalizing under taller deciduous canopy. An underused plant that earns admiration from anyone who gets close enough to notice.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown bladdernut propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Part sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 5–10 ft · 4–8 ft wide
- Bloom time
- Spring
- Bloom color
- White
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Family
- Staphyleaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America
Care notes for bladdernut.
Part to full shade, consistently moist, humus-rich soil. Water during dry periods. No pruning required. Allow sucker spread if you want a colony; trim to contain. Mulch to retain soil moisture. No fertilizing needed in good woodland soils.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside bladdernut.
Or skip the guesswork.
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