Staphylea x elegans , or Elegans Bladdernut, is deciduous, flowering shrub or small tree that can reach heights of 15 to 20 feet and a similar width. Staphylea × elegans is a hybrid of unknown origin, but probably fits in between S. colchica and S. pinnata and is considered a subtropical plant that is cold hardy to about 30 degrees F for short periods. However, like all species of Staphylea, the plant has dainty leaves, an upright habit and terminal panicles of white flowers in early or mid spring. The flowers are attractive in themselves; however, through the summer, the flower panicles develop large green bladders that turn pink and red in the autumn. If stored over winter these germinate quickly in the spring. The plant grows best in full sun or partial shade, although flowering will be encouraged with full sun. The flowers are white, or off white, and appear on terminal panicles. The plant will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dainty green pinnate leaves with three, five or seven leaflets.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
White flowers bloom on terminal panicle in early or mid spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
Flower panicles develop large green bladders of up to 2 inches in size that turn red in the fall. The bladders are sometimes called chinese lanterns and can be opened to extract the seeds.