Among the curiosities of the Plant Novelties Competition of the international exhibition "Green is Life", a lot of interest was aroused by the Chinese heptacodium - a species little known and practically unheard of outside of plant collectors' gardens.
The attention is drawn to the interesting foliage, unusual, autumn flowering period and bright red seed headsThe species itself was discovered in China relatively recently, in 1907 by Ernest Wilson, a famous British botanist, explorer and discoverer of plants.
The oldest specimens of Chinese heptacodium in Poland can be seen in botanical gardens, incl. in Warsaw and Powsin. The newest and still one of the few varieties of Chinese heptacodium is TIANSHAN® 'Minhep'PBR.It received a distinction from the jury of the Novelties Plants Competition, to which it was entered by the Pépinières Minier nursery from France, where it was bred and first introduced to the market.
Chinese Heptacodium TIANSHAN® 'Minhep'PBR is a tall shrub with upright shoots, nice foliage and unusual flowering time. Compared to the species, it is characterized by a more compact habit. It grows up to 2.5 m.Creates uneven, crooked shoots covered with light brown decorative bark that peels off with long stripes.
Leaves are 10 to 15 cm long, broadly elliptical, pointed at the ends, dark green, glossy on top, with 3 distinct veins running parallel along the entire length of the leaf blades. Leaves turn yellow in autumn.
Plants bloom in early fall. The flowers are small, white, gathered in quite large panicles, they develop from September to the first frost.The flowers are composed of four or five oval and thick petals of the crown and the same number of stamens with yellow pollen bags that surround the placed central post with a light green birthmark. After flowering, the heptacodium inflorescences remain decorative thanks to the red-stained, expanded sepals.
Cultivation of Chinese heptacodium
The plant prefers fertile, moderately moist, slightly acid soils.It is tolerant of light, grows well in sunny places as well as in partial shade and shade.Highly resistant to frost, zone 6. Only in the east of the country it requires covering in the first years of cultivation.
The variety is recommended for planting singly in home gardens, in exposed places, but sheltered from the wind, or in compositions with other shrubs.
