white enkianthus
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
Enkianthus perulatus is grown for its wide, dome shape rather than the columnar form of Enkianthus campanulatus. The fall color is a screaming scarlet red which makes for a real standout in the garden. This compact deciduous shrub has red-tinted young branches with mid green, elliptic to obovate toothed leaves. Pendant umbels of up to 10 urn-shaped white flowers appear in early spring. This is a fairly slow growing shrub so it should be used in combination with smaller groundcovers such as Blechnum penna-marina, primroses or small leaved Epimediums.
Plant Type: shrub
Foliage Type: deciduous
Plant Height (10-year): 5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 meters)
Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 meters)
Plant Height-Mature: 7 ft. 0 in. (2.13 meters)
Plant Width-Mature: 7 ft. 0 in. (2.13 meters)
Hardiness: USDA Zones 6 to 8
Flower Color: white
Flowering Time: spring
Sun/Light Exposure: full sun to dappled shade
Water Requirements: regular watering during the dry summer weather
Seasonal Interest: autumn color
Wildlife Associations: bees, hummingbirds
This slow growing shrub prefers a location in full sun to dappled shade, avoiding hot afternoon spots. The fall color is most intense with more sun, but plants in shade will still turn a beautiful clear golden yellow with orange tones. Provide a site with rich well-drained soil and regular watering during the dry summer weather. Enkianthus naturally grows with lovely layered branching and minimal pruning is needed to maintain a beautiful plant. It is easy to ruin the graceful habit with hard pruning. Consult an experienced pruner or take local classes before attempting to prune.
Text and photos ©2020 Great Plant Picks/Elisabeth Carey Miller Garden except where otherwise noted
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation, The Seattle Times, and Individual Donors
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden