Staphylea colchica

RHS Plant Profile

ivory-flowered bladdernut

RHS

Shrubs

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An upright, deciduous shrub, with glossy leaves of three or five leaflets. In late spring it bears small, white, fragrant, bell-shaped flowers in hanging clusters up to 12cm long. They are followed by large, greenish-white, inflated fruit

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Staphyleaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Staphylea are deciduous shrubs or small trees producing hanging clusters of bell- or cup-shaped, white, cream or pink flowers, followed by bladder-like, two- or three-lobed fruit
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Caucasus

How to Grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in any moist, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in autumn, or by softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer, both with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1 or pruning group 2

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free