(Heptacodium miconioides)
Heptacodium miconiodes is a small tree, reaching about 4m. It produces abundant clusters of scented creamy-white long-lasting flowers in late summer, which are very attractive to bees at a time when most other trees and plants are no longer in flower.
After the flowers have fallen their pink / red calyxes remain, providing additional colour and interest.
The light brown bark peels off in sheets in winter, revealing darker brown bark underneath.
Contact us if you would like to go on the waiting list for next season.
Let me know when Heptacodium miconoides melliferous trees are back in stock.
If you do not hear from us by March you can contact us to pre-order for next autumn.
Heptacodium miconiodes is quite rare in its native China, but has become a popular ornamental tree in western Europe and North America. It is also known as the Seven Sons tree (a direct translation of its Chinese name).
Most of the fruit trees we sell need bees and other pollinating insects to set fruit, and of course fruit trees provide pollen and nectar in return. However fruit trees are only in flower for a few weeks in the spring and if you want to encourage a healthy bee population around your orchard, it is useful to plant other trees which will sustain them over the summer.
Trees which are particularly attractive to bees are called 'melliferous' and come from many different species. They typically produce abundant flowers, often scented, over a long period. The flowers are also particularly easy for bees to access, and have generous quantities of nectar and pollen.
Note that the pollen of melliferous trees will not cross-pollinate with your orchard trees - the reason for planting them is to provide a resource for bees after the orchard trees have finished flowering,.
