Seven-son flower | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Honeysuckle
Family (botanic) Caprifoliaceae
Tree or plant type Tree, Shrub
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Non-native
Size range Large shrub (more than 8 feet), Compact tree (10-15 feet), Small tree (15-25 feet)
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
Soil preference Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil
Tolerances Alkaline soil, clay soil, Dry sites
Season of interest early winter, midwinter, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, White
Shape or form Irregular, Upright
Growth rate Fast, Moderate

Size and Form:

Seven-son flower grows 15 to 20 feet high and 8 to 12 feet wide with an upright form.

Native geographic location and habitat:

Native to China.

Bark color and texture:

Bark is light tan with a lighter colored inner bark. The outer bark exfoliates (peels) into long strips exposing the inner bark.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

Simple, opposite leaves are 3 to 6 inches long. The leaf margin is entire and slightly wavy. Dark green from early spring into late fall, there is little to no fall color.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Small, white flowers late in season (September) are in clusters of seven with several flower clusters grouped together. When the flower petals drop in October, the long-lasting sepals turn an attractive, bright, rosy-pink color, making the plant appear to flower a second time.