Staphylea trifolia

Product Info

American Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia)
Bladdernut Family

American Bladdernut is a fast growing, medium size shrub that works well in rain gardens, rich shady woods, and naturalized areas. Drooping clusters of white, sometimes pink tinted, flowers bloom in late spring and are replaced with unique, highly attractive seed capsules. Capsules are 2-3” and have an inflated, lantern-like structure. They start off green with pink tinges, and turn a medium brown when ripe.Seed capsules often remain on the shrub through winter. This shrub will perform best in consistently moist soils in 4-6 hours of sun, but can adapt to average soil and more or less sun as well. Plants tend to be less dense in deeper shade. Will sucker over time, but can be pruned if desired.

Blooms: Green/White, 2-3 weeks, Apr-May
Leaves: Trifoliate leaves are large and generally attractive
Height:6-12’ 
Space: 5-6’
Soil: Average-Moist
Exposure: Part sun-Part shade
Fauna: Many types of bees and flies
Seeds: Very attractive inflated lantern-like, papery seed pods are yellowish pink–very and contain 3 hard brown seeds
Deer Resistance: Moderate
Zone: 3-8
Native Status:  NC native, common in the Piedmont, uncommon in the Mountains and Coastal Plain
Provenance: North Carolina ecotype, seed grown