Enkianthus is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the Ericaceae (blueberry) family with a narrowly upright habit of layered branches and tufted foliage. The name e nkyos is Greek for the word pregnant and anthos means flower. This is in reference to the swollen urn shape of the flowers. Campanulatus is Latin for bell-shape also in reference to the flowers. This shrub typically grows 6-8 feet tall but can reach heights of 16 feet. Plant it in full sun to partial shade in acidic, moist, organically rich, well-drained soil. It will suffer in dry weather and drought conditions but does well in clay soils. The attractive late spring flowers appear on last year's growth so prune immediately after flowering to not remove next year's buds. The seed capsules are unusual-looking and are prized for dried arrangements. Expect fantastic yellow, red or orange fall leaf color ad excellent, smooth, warm brown bark that gives winter interest in the landscape. Plants are often vegetatively propagated to maintain their brilliant fall colors. Plant as a specimen, along a foundation, or use in small groups in shrub borders. Rhododendrons have the same soil requirements so they are good planting companions. Seasons of Interest: Foliage: Fall Bark : Winter Quick ID Hints : Seed capsules look like dried, upturned bells Leaves with hairy margins are crowded at branch tips Flowers are bell-shaped, nodding, in racemes Deciduous small tree or shrub, tiered branches Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Glossy, bright to medium blue-green to olive green leaves clustered at the ends of branches. Brilliant yellow and red-orange fall color that varies among seedlings. Alternate leaves are crowded at end of branches, simple, elliptic to obovate, acuminate, cuneate, serrate with aristate teeth, scattered bristly hairs above and on veins beneath, 1 to 3.5 inches long.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Bell; Urn
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
A cluster of creamy white, small 1/2" long, bell or urn-shaped flowers in pendulous racemes appear in spring. They have red or pink veins and edges; borne on the previous year's growth. Blooms are similar to Pieris, which is in the same family. Corymbose raceme, pendulous, terminal. (5-15) pale cream to light orange, veined with red, fragrant, corolla campanulate, 5-lobed.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Good Dried
Fruit detail
An ovoid, dehiscent capsule, 5-valved, borne upright on a recurved pedicel.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
Smooth brown bark
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Slender, tiered, reddish to brown.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape theme
Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Mass Planting; Small groups; Small Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous #specialized bees #fall interest #nectar plant #showy flowers #interesting bark #specimen #mass planting #pollinator plant #winter interest #fantz #clay soils tolerant #small shrub #dried arrangements #fall color yellow #drought intolerant #fall color red #fall color orange #deciduous shrub #small tree #foundation planting #low maintenance #small groups