American Bladdernut, Staphylea trifolia,

Native to Canada

Small tree or large shrub native to eastern North America from Nebraska and Arkansas west to Florida and occurs in southern Ontario and rarely in the south of Quebec. It is one of some 300 species likely to be designated threatened or vulnerable in Quebec. It is found particularly in the greater metropolitan region and in the Outaouais. Its size can reach 11 m high. Its leaves are opposite and cut into three leaflets, each of which can reach 10 cm long and 5 cm wide. The leaves are pale green in spring and turn intense green in summer. In spring, it is covered with white flowers in the shape of a hanging sachet, in which large black seeds appear. The staphy tree tolerates drought well, heavy, clayey and humid soils as well as poor, shallow and rocky soils. The tree also tolerates partial or total shade which is an advantage. It is an excellent ornamental species for small spaces with its beautiful spring flowers and its funny sachet-shaped seeds which hang from the branches later in autumn and often persist until early winter. The tree in its natural area can sometimes grow in dense colonies. It requires little care and is not affected by diseases.Hardy up to zone 4a.