| Enkianthus | |
|---|---|
| Enkianthus perulatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Subfamily: | Enkianthoideae Kron & al. |
| Genus: | Enkianthus Lour. |
| Species | |
|
Twelve |
|
Enkianthus is a genus of shrubs or small trees in the heath family (Ericaceae).[1] Its native range is in Asia, as far west as the eastern Himalayas, as far south as Indochina, and as far north and east as China and Japan.[1]
Contents |
The hardiest of Enkianthus species is E. campanulatus, a medium size, narrow, upright, deciduous shrub. Its bright green glossy foliage gives brilliant coppery to red fall colors. In spring it offers a profusion of bell-shaped (campanula, "little bell"), creamy white flowers with red veins.
The plant was brought to England by Charles Maries, who was plant-hunting in Japan at the time for Veitch Nurseries. The shrub can exceed expectations of height under the right circumstances, as at William Robinson's Gravetye Manor, where a pair planted about the turn of the 20th century reached 15 feet.[2]
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Spacing: 4' to 5' apart
Average height x width: 10' tall x 5' wide
Fertilizing: Fertilize in spring just before new growth begins
Cold hardiness: -20°F
Water use: Keep soil evenly moist. Prefers acid, well-drained soil.