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Staphylea trifolia (American Bladdernut)

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description Staphylea trifolia (American Bladdernut) Overview

Staphylea trifolia, commonly called American bladdernut, is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. Its leaves are divided into three leaflets, and its small pale flowers are followed by inflated, papery seed capsules that persist after flowering and may rattle when dry. It is a woodland and forest-edge plant used in native-plant and wildlife gardens, where its unusual fruits provide its most recognizable feature.

help Staphylea trifolia (American Bladdernut) FAQ

Why is Staphylea trifolia called American bladdernut?

The name refers to its inflated, papery seed capsules, which can look like small bladders and may rattle when dry. It is native to eastern North America.

What do the leaves of American bladdernut look like?

Its leaves are divided into three leaflets, which is reflected in the species name trifolia. The shrub is deciduous, so those leaves are shed seasonally.

What flowers does Staphylea trifolia produce?

It produces small, pale flowers before developing its distinctive inflated seed capsules. The flowers are less conspicuous than the later papery fruits.

Is American bladdernut a tree or a shrub?

Staphylea trifolia is generally treated as a deciduous shrub, although it can become fairly large and may have a multi-stemmed form. It is used as an ornamental and native-plant species in suitable parts of eastern North America.

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