Heptacodium

Heptacodium miconioides is a deciduous large shrub or small tree, typically growing to a height of 4–9 m (13–30 ft). The bark of the trunk is papery and thin, light tan in colour, and exfoliates in strips or sheets. The upright, spreading, quadrangular branches give the plant a rounded, often irregular shape. The dark-green cordate leaves are opposite, 8–10 cm long by 5–6 cm wide, with entire margins and deeply impressed venation running parallel to the margin.[7] In September, H. miconioides produces large shows of small fragrant white blooms attractive to butterflies and bumblebees,[8] the flowers five-petalled, < 13 mm across.[9] When the white corollas have fallen, the calyces develop into deep red expanded lobes which persist into November. The plant may be found in scrub, woodlands, and on the margins of broadleaved evergreen forests, often on cliffs, at altitudes of 600–1000 metres.[10]

Noted plantsman John Grimshaw, director of the Yorkshire Arboretum, relayed the following observation of H. miconioides from distinguished botanist Allen J. Coombes, (formerly of the Hillier Gardens and currently coordinator of scientific collections at the University Botanic Garden Puebla, Mexico):

'Seven' is actually misleading, for the flowers in each capitulum are held in two rows of three clustered around a central bud, which is not a flower bud but in fact a continuation of the inflorescence axis, which will push up as the flowers fade and develop a new ring of six flowers, again around a central bud. Three such iterations have been observed.

Readily propagated from either seed or by softwood cuttings, the species has since become widely available in North America and Europe, and was stocked by 26 nurseries in the UK alone in 2011. H. miconioides is extremely hardy, and tolerant of temperatures as low as −35 °C (−31 °F). It is also fast-growing, and can reach a height of 3 m (9.8 ft) in just five years; it is also very shade tolerant.[7] All six of the first H. miconioides planted in the United States in 1980 at the Arnold Arboretum are still alive, indicating an expected lifespan greater than 40 years.[11] This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[12][13]

In the UK, a specimen 8 m high (2012) planted in 1981 formerly grew in the Flagpole Bed alongside Jermyn House at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Ampfield, near Romsey.

The generic name of Heptacodium has sometimes[14] erroneously been said to mean 'seven bells' with a second element derived from Greek κώδων (codon) - 'bell', but was in fact coined by Arnold Arboretum taxonomist Alfred Rehder from the Greek κώδειά (codeia) - 'poppy head' with the prefix έπτά (hepta-) 'seven', giving the meaning 'having seven structures resembling poppy heads'. The specific epithet miconioides alludes to the similarities in the plant, particularly its boldly-veined leaves, to certain species belonging to the unrelated genus Miconia (family Melastomataceae).

The common name in Standard Chinese 七子花 (qī zi huā) is composed of the characters 七 (qī) 'seven', 子 (zi) 'son' / 'child' and 花 (huā) 'flower' - whence 'Seven Son(s) Flower' ('Flower with seven children'). Approximate pronunciation (not allowing for tonality of Chinese language) 'Chee-dzu-hwaa'.[15]

Recent tests have demonstrated that extracts from the plant possess antibacterial activity.[16] The leaf blades of Heptacodium have been found to contain flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, lignin and chlorogenic acid.[17]

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  Characteristic peeling bark of mature specimen.
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  Four trunks of mature specimen, side view.
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  Bifurcating trunks ( with fifth subsidiary trunk ) of mature specimen, viewed from above.
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  Single leaf, showing characteristic, three, parallel, longitudinal veins.
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  Spring foliage in canopy of mature specimen, viewed from beneath.
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  Close-up of small, scented, white flowers in late Summer / Early Autumn.
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  Pink colouration of fruiting calyces.
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  Close-up of fruiting Calyces in late October.

• Airy Shaw, H. K. (1952). A second species of the genus Heptacodium Rehd.(Caprifoliaceae). Kew Bulletin 1952, Number 2, pages 245–246.

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