Heptacodium miconioides, also referred to as Seven Sons, has a lot to offer the gardener who grows it. It is actually a 15' to 20' shrub, frequently pruned to a tree shape. I have chosen to make the three in my gardens multiple trunked, but they could easily be trained to a single trunk.
Seven Sons was originally discovered in China by E.H.Wilson at the turn of the last century. In 1980 the shrub was rediscovered in a botanical garden in China. It may not be found in the wild anymore and all plants now existing or available in the nursery trade can apparently be traced back to the single tree found in 1980. For more info on its interesting history, check this link... http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/702.pdf
This shrub (tree) is interesting in all seasons with exfoliating bark. In my gardens August brings attractive flower bud clusters and September brings white clustered blooms. The best season however, comes in October through hard frost, with rose colored calyxes at a time when little else is happening in my gardens other than the occasional fall color.
Seven Sons is not bothered by pests or disease and is also salt tolerant... unfortunately, it isn't drought tolerant so supplemental watering may be important in some seasons or areas of the country... this is truly a great plant that came very close to being lost forever. I've read that planting clematis at its base is an effective way to add extra seasons of bloom and I need to give that a try. Based on my experience, I highly recommend Seven Sons for zone 5 and it should be fine through zone 8. Take care, Larry
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