Stachyurus chinensis
Stachyurus chinensis Franch.
Stachyurus chinensis, known as Chinese stachyurus, is a deciduous shrub in the Stachyuraceae family. It is native to China and Taiwan, growing up to 2.5 m tall and 4 m wide. This species is characterized by its stiff, pendent racemes of greenish-yellow, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in winter and spring on glossy, dark brown branches. It flowers two weeks later than the similar S. praecox. After flowering, it produces simple ovate leaves that turn pink and red before falling in autumn.
Description
Stachyurus chinensis is a spreading shrub found in China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Taiwan, and Vietnam. It was first described in 1898 by Franch. The plant is notable for its ornamental value due to its winter and spring flowering, which occurs on new growth. The flowers are followed by leaves that change color to pink and red in the fall. This species is part of the Stachyuraceae family, a group of flowering plants with a limited geographic distribution primarily in East Asia.
Distribution
China North-Central · China South-Central · China Southeast · Taiwan · Vietnam
Synonyms
Stachyurus chinensis subsp. cuspidatusStachyurus chinensis subsp. latusStachyurus sigeyosiiStachyurus caudatilimbusStachyurus duclouxiiStachyurus chinensis var. cuspidatusStachyurus chinensis var. latusStachyurus chinensis subsp. chinensisStachyurus chinensis var. chinensis