Seven-son flower - Heptacodium miconioides

English name:
Seven-son flower 

Scientific name:
Heptacodium miconioides 

Height:
Circa 5 M 

Flowering:
September 

Range:
Western China 

Heptacodium miconioides Heptacodium miconioides


The plant can be found at the Arboretum's parking lot in square: 1017, position 3103.

Plant description: 
The genus Heptacodium belongs to the honeysuckle family and has its natural distribution in Western China. The genus Heptacodium has only one species, which is described here. 

Heptacodium miconioides (synonym = H. jasminoides) is a large, fast-growing, large bush, or small tree, up to 5 meters tall. The attractive opposite leaves are shiny, dark-green on top with entire margins and a long drip tip.  They have 3 veins parallel to the margins.  The pealing bark adds interest in winter 

Flowering occurs in September with small white, weak, sweet-smelling, jasmine-like flowers.  The flowers occur on tiered, 6-flowered whorls.. 

Heptacodium miconioides was first described by Alfred Rehder in 1916, it then disappeared and was rediscovered in 1980 by the Sino-American Botanic Expedition. 

Our 2 meter tall example is found by the Arboretum's parking lot and came as a gift from Arne Vagn Jakobsen in 1995.