Plant/Tree of the Month
January 2003
“Seven Sons of China”
While the snow and cold seem to last forever, we look to warmer times
and focus on an uncommon plant. The plant is called Heptacodium miconioides
or by common name "Seven Sons of China". It falls into the small tree/large
shrub category. There are two specimens on campus. One is at Crandall
Park on the west side of College Ave. and the other is in a parking island
N.E. of Security and behind Johnson House.
This interesting plant has leaves that resemble those of a peach tree
and has cream colored bark that peels away naturally or exfoliates as
it ages. While most trees flower in Spring, Heptacodium has the uncommon
characteristic of flowering as late in the year as September and October.
It blooms in clusters of small white flowers that fade to pink as the
first frosts approach. Depending on fertility and pruning practices it
can be a 15' bushy shrub or a 10' multi-stemmed small tree in ten years.
It may be diffucult to find one at your local nursery but worth looking
for if you want an uncommon but interesting addition to your home.
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