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Pterostyrax corymbosus

little epaulette tree

A large, spreading, deciduous shrub or small tree, with bright green, pointed, oval leaves which turn yellow in autumn. Hanging clusters of small, fragrant, white flowers are produced in late spring and early summer, followed by five-ribbed fruits

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Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

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)

Botanical details

Family: Styracaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Pterostyrax can be deciduous trees or large shrubs, with peeling bark, simple leaves and drooping panicles of small, 5-lobed, bell-shaped flowers held beneath the branches, and followed by small ribbed fruits.
Name status: Correct
Plant range: China, Japan

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained, acid or neutral soil, sheltered from cold winds. Needs hot, sunny summers to flower well

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in a coldframe or seedbed in autumn or semi-hardwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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