Sensational Seven-Son Flower
Flowering shrubs and trees in early autumn can be hard to come by, especially ones that boast multiple seasons of interest when not in flower. Heptacodium miconoides is objectively quite the opposite: foliage perfectly designed for providing shade on hot summer days acts as the backdrop for late summer flower buds that emerge chartreuse-tinged-ivory, unfurling to fragrant pollinator magnets in September, transforming to become a lipstick red “second bloom” in mid-autumn, and finally culminating in a fantastical display of exfoliating bark that can sometimes be seen whispering a delicate, papery song in brisk winter breezes. While winter is thankfully still a ways away, let’s bask in the ornamental oddity that is the twice-blooming floral structure of seven-son flower and the pollinators that so graciously enjoy its bounty.
One of the last times that wild stands of Heptacodium miconoides were visited and recorded in 2005 in the Hubei Province of central China, only 9 existing populations were documented, making this rare species more common in cultivation than in its own natural habitat. Commonly taking residence on dry, rocky mountain cliffsides that often see massive swings in temperature differentials, Heptacodium miconoides is built genetically to withstand difficult conditions.
With the increasing need for heat-tolerant plant selections in our temperate regions, species such as this rare non-native ornamental that can truly succeed in adverse environments are going to become all the more critical to our future landscape designs. This tolerance for less-than-ideal conditions makes H. miconoides a potential suitor for those cultivating an urban garden oasis, where it can serve as a haven for pollinators surviving in often nutrient-poor habitats.
In a recent University of Nebraska thesis study, Heptacodium miconoides was used as a control specimen alongside beneficial native selections as well as other non-problematic ornamental perennials and shrubs to observe and record pollinators that can be found to visit in an urban setting. From May to September of the recorded year, 13 different insect families were found to utilize Heptacodium miconoides in one way or another.
Bees, beetles, butterflies, flies, hoverflies, capsid bugs, skippers, wasps, and moths of varying species were observed, and can currently be observed enjoying our own selections of seven-son flowers here at the nursery. Simply standing and watching a single Heptacodium miconoides specimen for several minutes will introduce many insect hosts to the viewer. Various native bumblebee species are often the most prevalent pollinators, seconded by their smaller honeybee cousins, and followed by the intermix of winged wonders that encourage longer and more intensive observation of such a beautiful plant.
The fragrance of the ivory blooms alone is enough to entice passersby to stop and discover the source, and along with the remaining reddish fruit structures that make a lovely addition to seasonal arrangements and floral projects, Heptacodium miconoides is a front runner as a shade selection for sensory gardens, therapeutic gardens, and children’s gardens. Its highly attractive, peeling bark, not asimilar to that of Lagerstroemia, extends seasonal interest well into winter, encouraging curious hands to rove about its curious exfoliating texture. In the interim, however, of ivory blooms and exfoliating epidermal structures, is the proliferation of carmine-colored calices that are revealed once the flowers have dissipated. These persistent structures seemingly extend the flowering time well into November, despite their lack of pollen or nectar – they are simply the ornamental result of pollination, theoretically resulting in seed production, although it is rare that seedlings occur in cultivation without assistance.
Due to its rarity in the trade, we have only a small number of Heptacodium miconoides available. With only a handful of #30-gallon specimens and a small selection of #15-gallon Temple of Bloom® (‘SMNHMRF’)(PP30763) seven-son flower available, we recommend getting your hands on them before they’re gone - or so that there’s at least still enough time to enjoy the rest of the floral display well into late autumn!
See all our Woody Ornamentals
