Staphylea pinnata explained

Staphylea pinnata, the European bladdernut, is a species of bladdernut native to Europe and naturalized in Britain.^[1]

Description

It is a deciduous shrub growing up to 6m (20feet).^[2] The species name pinnata refers to the pinnate leaves.^[3] Small, white, bell-shaped, fragrant flowers^[4] bloom from May to June, on panicles up to 13cm (05inches) long. The flowers are bisexual and pollinated by flies. The fruits are inflated papery capsules, 2-3 lobed, up to 4cm (02inches) long, ripening from September to November. The seeds are edible, and are said to taste like pistachios.

Cultivation

Staphylea pinnata can be grown in full sun to partial shade, and tolerates a variety of soils. It is hardy in zones 6–8. It has low drought tolerance.

Notes and References

1. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Staphylea+pinnata Plants for a Future—Staphylea pinnata
2. http://www.plantdatabase.ie/Staphylea_pinnata Plant Database—Staphylea pinnata
3. Heiss . Andreas G. . Filipovic . Dragana . Nedelcheva . Anely . Ruß-Popa . Gabriela . Wanninger . Klaus . Schramayr . Georg . Perego . Renata . Jacomet . Stefanie . October 2014 . A Fistful of Bladdernuts: The Shifting Uses of Staphylea pinnata L. as Documented by Archaeology, History, and Ethnology . Folk Life . 52 . 2 . 95–136 . 10.1179/0430877814Z.00000000031 . 163022862 . 17 August 2015 . pdf.
4. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d259 Missouri Botanical Garden—Staphylea pinnata