Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Staphylea trifolia (American bladdernut)
Flaigg, Norman G.

Staphylea trifolia L.

American bladdernut

Staphyleaceae (Bladdernut Family)

USDA Symbol: sttr

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

American bladdernut is a large, suckering, deciduous shrub or small tree, 8-15 ft. tall. Landscape attributes include: drooping clusters of cream, bell-shaped flowers; attractive, dark-green, trifoliate leaves; greenish bark textured with white cracks; and interesting fruit. The fruit, which changes from green to yellow to brown, is a three-chambered bladder.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Trifoliate
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Reddish brown
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: Que. to MN, s. to FL, AR, e. OK & e. KS; generally absent from the Appalacians
Native Habitat: Moist, deep woods; thickets; floodplain woods
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained sandy or silty loams.
Conditions Comments: Bladdernut is insect and disease resistant. It tolerates a wide variety of soils.

Propagation

Description: Softwood and hardwood cuttings root easily. Can also be grown from seed.
Seed Collection: Do not allow seeds to dry out before stratification.
Seed Treatment: Seeds apparently posses a double dormancy. Three months warm followed by three months at 40 degrees.
Commercially Avail: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Michigan native plants for shady, low traffic area
May 10, 2006
Hello, I am looking for a recommendation for a Michigan native groundcover. I live adjacent to the Rouge River watershed and want to buy the right thing. The location is shady, infrequently walked ...
view the full question and answer

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Staphylea trifolia in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Staphylea trifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Staphylea trifolia

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back