Heptacodium miconioides

The seven sons plant is a member of the honeysuckle or Caprifoliaceae family. It is native to China and was discovered in 1907 in Hubei province. It is now widely grown throughout the world. As a small fountain-shaped tree, it can reach a height of about 8 m.

• Leaves are opposite, shiny, ovate-oblong, 8–10 cm long by 5–6 cm wide, dark green on top, lighter green on underside, with central veins, and smaller veins curving toward the tips of the leaves (reminiscent of a dogwood which generally has opposite leaves, veins curving towards leaf tips).
• The opposite twigs in winter are small, numerous, some quadrangular, appearing somewhat scattered, with numerous short stubs.
• Flowering takes place in September. Flowers are on the ends of opposite stems 5–8 cm long, and are white, 5-petalled, up to 1.3 cm across, in groups of 7 tiny flowers (thus 7 sons), with narrow petals slightly enlarging towards the tips.
• In the late fall after the flower petals have fallen off, a calyx of bright red sepals stands out around inconspicuous fruits.
• Bark is light tan, papery and thin, exfoliating in vertical strips or sheets.