Staphylea holocarpa 'Innocence'
Chinese bladdernut 'Innocence'
An upright, deciduous shrub or spreading tree to 8m tall, with leaves divided into 3 lance-shaped leaflets. In mid-and late spring, before the leaves emerge, it bears pendent clusters of bell-shaped, 1.5cm long white flowers with a pink tint. These later develop into bladder-like, green seed pods which turn pink and red in autumn. Grow in a shrub border or woodland garden

Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | White Pink | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | Green Pink Red | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical 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
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in any moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade
Propagation
Propagate by sowing seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn. Take greenwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer, both with bottom heat
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- Low Maintenance
Pruning
See pruning group 1 or 2
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.