Unusual & Old Fashioned Fruit Trees

 


 

 Bladdernut - Staphylea Pinnata

The Bladdernut, or to give it its correct name Staphylea Pinnata is a large, vigorous, shrub, or small tree that is popular all over Europe and Asia as well as other parts of the World. It will grow up to between 10 to 15 feet tall and in good conditions can get to over 20 feet, but is very bushy in its habit growing as wide as it is tall.
Staphylea Pinnata Trifolia, or the American bladdernut, is native to Eastern North America, growing in the colder Northern parts and all the way down South to Florida. This variety is the most popular type grown for the large, edible, black seeds that are produced within green air-filled "bladders". The seeds are about 1 cm across, can be eaten raw and are said to taste rather like pistachio nuts with the general appearance of a Hazelnut.

The leaves of the deciduous Bladdernut have three leaflets, each of which is up to 4 inches long and 2 inches broad, and they each have a serrated margin. The bright green leaves turn darker green in the Summer months. In the months of May to June, the Bladdernut has clusters of showy, hanging, bell shaped, white flowers, after which the 2 inch long, papery “Bladders,” are produced containing the seeds that ripen during the Autumn. This is one of those plants that is self-fertile as the flowers contain both male and female parts with pollination being performed by flies. Consequently only one tree is needed for pollination and seed production. 

Bladdernuts are easy to grow as although they like moist soil and a little shade, they will tolerate sunnier, drier conditions and aren’t fussy about soil type whether it is alkali, heavy, or light. They are also hardy down to -20°C and have few natural pests, or disease problems making them a tough and versatile, low maintenance, flowering bush for any garden. Propagation can be made by seed, or more easily from the suckers that are readily produced. 

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