Staphylea colchica 'LAXIFLORA' Caucasian bladdernut, Colchis bladdernut

This bladdernut species comes from Colchis - nowadays Georgia in Caucasus, and represents one of the oldest melliferous plants of the region. There are records saying that it was also grown in large pots so it could be moved to greenhouses in winter and forced to earlier production of flowers.

Bladdernut is cultivated mainly for its highly decorative and strongly fragrant flowers in mid spring. They are small, white, with narrow, tousled petals, sweetly scented, composed in pendent, up to 12 cm long racemes that resemble fringe tree inflorescence. They are followed by small, hard-shell capsules in autumn.

Laxiflora is a variety with more pendent, relaxed racemes, and its leaves are composed mostly of 3 leaflets as opposed to the species with 5 leaflets. They are deciduous, fresh green, narrowly ovate with pointed tips, turning yellow in autumn.

It grows moderately into a small tree or medium tall, upright shrub when young, spreading to about 3m in maturity. It is soil adaptable, provided it is well-drained. It does best in moist soil, full sun or part shade. Pruning is usually not needed but can be done after flowering - flowers appear on previous year's wood. Fully hardy to min. -25°C (USDA zone 5b) but is expected to withstand a few degrees lower.

Last update 29-01-2013; 22-04-2019