Heptacodium
( hep - tuh - KOH - dee - um )
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At-A-Glance InformationCommonly called Seven Sons Flower, shrubs and trees need full sun to light shade and regular water to perform well in the landscape. There is a single species in its genus, which is a member of the plant family Caprifoliaceae. They are native to China and grow best in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 or Sunset growing zones 2b-6 and 14-17 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map). They are fountain-shaped, reaching 15-20 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide, and can be single or multi-trunked when grown as a tree. Leaves are shiny green and deeply veined, and fragrant flowers are creamy white, blooming in late summer through fall. Small fruits follow blooms, and develop inside rose-colored calyces. Bark is pale, and peels to reveal dark brown underneath. It is a great substitute for cooler areas where Crape Myrtles have trouble growing, and is perfect for smaller gardens, borders, or as an ornamental specimen tree or shrub. Take care when planting these trees in the landscape, as ingestion of plant parts can cause severe digestive discomfort.
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Caring for heptacodium
Take care when planting these trees in the landscape, as ingestion of plant parts can cause severe digestive discomfort. These shrubs and trees prefer to be planted in full sun exposure; this will encourage the maximum amount of foliage and flower production to occur. They can tolerate partial shade, especially when young, but Heptacodium trees planted in full shade tend to become leggy and have fewer blossoms. An ideal placement would be in a space in the garden that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. When choosing a planting site, make sure it can accommodate the full size of the tree or shrub when it is fully grown. They typically put on about 1-2 feet per year under optimal conditions and reach between 10 and 15 feet with a 8 to 12 foot wide spread. If planting as a privacy hedge, space plants 6-8 feet apart. These trees thrive in well-draining soils that are moderately moist. They are adaptable to many different soil types, including sandy, loamy and clay, as long as they drain well. If local soils are not well-draining, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of sand and organic material. Heptacodium trees prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0. Apply a thick layer of mulch around plantings to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperatures. After planting, make sure young trees receive regular waterings to help them establish a strong, healthy root system. Water deeply during warmer weather. Established trees are impressively drought-tolerant, but will still need some supplemental deep waterings during the warmest months of the year. Avoid overwatering these plants, as they will develop issues with root rot. Do not let trees sit in waterlogged soils.
These trees have an attractive natural shape and typically do not need much pruning. If trees become too large for their space, they can be trimmed back a bit, but in general it is best to simply choose a spot in the garden that will accommodate their full size. The best time to prune is in late wintertime or early spring. Simply remove dead, diseased, damaged, or crossing branches and thin out the canopy a little to increase airflow. These trees bloom on new wood, so they can be pruned back lightly in fall after flowers fade. Avoid cutting trees back too much, however, because it could affect blooming for the following year. These trees do not generally need much fertilizing; they can get by on a simple application of organic compost each year in springtime applied around their base. Heptacodium plants can survive for upwards of 40 years or more in the landscape before needing to be replaced.
These trees have an attractive natural shape and typically do not need much pruning. If trees become too large for their space, they can be trimmed back a bit, but in general it is best to simply choose a spot in the garden that will accommodate their full size. The best time to prune is in late wintertime or early spring. Simply remove dead, diseased, damaged, or crossing branches and thin out the canopy a little to increase airflow. These trees bloom on new wood, so they can be pruned back lightly in fall after flowers fade. Avoid cutting trees back too much, however, because it could affect blooming for the following year. These trees do not generally need much fertilizing; they can get by on a simple application of organic compost each year in springtime applied around their base. Heptacodium plants can survive for upwards of 40 years or more in the landscape before needing to be replaced.
Propagation
Heptacodium can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your tree or shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Heptacodium by Cutting
Propagating Heptacodium by Seed
Propagating Heptacodium by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
- In spring, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch softwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Heptacodium by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
- Harvest your seeds in fall soon after they are ripe and begin to be released from trees. They have a low viability, so it is best to use seeds soon after they are harvested.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Heptacodium flowers fade to reveal achene fruits in fall, surrounded by rose-purple sepals.
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Heptacodium seeds are small, leathery and cylindrical.
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Problems and Pests
Heptacodium trees are generally quite pest and disease resistant, but they can have issues with the following common garden ailments:
- Thrips
- Mealybugs
- Earwigs
- Slugs and Snails
- Whiteflies
- Spider Mites
- Verticillium Wilt
- Root Rot
- Powdery Mildew
- Leaf Spot
- Caterpillars
Gallery
Heptacodium trees are great substitutes for Crape Myrtles in cooler-weather areas.
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Flowers can be white or pink, depending on the cultivar grown.
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These trees are part of the Honeysuckle family, and have similar fragrant flowers.
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Videos
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Check out the Temple of Bloom cultivar.
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Heptacodium through the seasons.
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Learn about these beautiful flowering trees and shrubs.
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How to use Heptacodium to add color and interest to landscapes.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 359, Heptacodium Minconioides (Seven Sons Flower)
