Seven-Son Flower
Arbor Walk #66, TreeKeeper ID #2585
The Seven-Son Flower is a large deciduous shrub with a fountain head that terminates in creamy white flower clusters. This plant is native to China, and provides a good source of nectar for butterflies. The Seven-Son Flower is named for the white flowers that come in groups of seven. These flowers are the defining characteristic of the tree; they appear in whorls of seven tiny fragrant, creamy white, flowers in late summer through early fall. The flowers are then replaced by equally showy purple red fruit. In addition, the Seven-Son Flower has a very distinct peeling bark.
| Common Name | Seven-Son Flower |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Heptacodium miconioides |
| Indigenous Name(s) | |
| Cultivar/Variety | |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Gaylord Music Library, 1.64 m | Blewett Hall, 13.13 m | Tietjens Hall, 29.02 m |
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Serviceberry, 9.34 m | Persian Parrotia, 14.34 m | Cherry spp., 21.26 m |
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Caliper (m) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4.9586 | 6.4 | N/A | 3.53 | 4.03 | 3.78 |
| 2023 | 5.92 | 7.5 | N/A | 5.07 | 3.2 | 4.135 |
| 2024 | 5.97 | 49.9 | N/A | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.55 |
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2020 | One old pruning wound which appears to be growing fungus and algae |
Leaf Identification
The Seven-Son Flower has simple, oppositely arranged leaves. The leaves have an elongated cordate shape, with arcuate (curling towards parallel) veins and a long tapered tip.
Twig and Bud Identification
The twig turns from light green to dark brown and smooth with pale lenticels (pores). The leaf buds are axillary and in pairs opposite each other on the twig. The flower buds develop in branching panicles during the summer.
Bark Identification
The bark is whitish-brown and peels in long vertical strips. If not pruned into a singular trunk, the shrub will develop multiple smaller trunks.
Fruit Identification
The fruits of the Seven-Son Flower are tiny drupes, inconspicuous within the bright red-pink sepals that grow after the flowers fall. The fruits appear in late fall.
Flower Identification
The flowers of the Seven-Son Flower bloom in early fall in seven-branched panicles. Each flower is small, white, and pleasantly fragrant. They release from the tree in mid- to late fall.
