Enkianthus campanulatus (Furin-Tsutsuji)

Imagine you walk deep into a woodland in Japan, the Hokkaido region, and along a rocky creek side you see these small clouds of nodding bell-shaped flowers. Hues of pink, maybe yellow, some with striations of red (hence its English common name, red-veined enkianthus). Well, maybe you don’t have to imagine; if you head into the Arboretum off of the south side of Azalea Way, right behind the pond, above the Centennial Garden you’ll find beautiful large enkianthus planted in 1937. There is also a beautiful example right by the Graham Visitor Center on the east side.

Enkianthus is pollinated by wasps, wasps tend to like white or yellow colored flowers with shallow flowers, which happens to make this deciduous shrub a prime candidate. The fall color is another stand out moment for enkianthus. Most often it is a red-orange upon the ovate-elliptical foliage, whorled at the end of the branches around 4cm long and 2cm wide, with finely serrated margins. It grows in fertile acidic soil, dry to moist, ideally with lots of leaf litter. Hardy to Zone 5. You also may notice, soon after flowering, a very small and inconspicuous fruit that ranges in color from bright yellow, to lime green, to a slow die-off brown.

The blooms are spectacular right at this moment (mid-May). Traditionally the wood is/was used as an alcove post (toko-bashira (床柱)) in Japanese tea rooms.

This beautiful shrub can be found in pots or as an informally pruned hedge planted singularly or in a group. The form allows for minimal pruning (the occasional dead-wooding) as its structure is incredibly graceful. If you need to prune for access, wait till after flowering. Allow this tree-like shrub to grow wide, as over-pruning will detract from its natural form and leave you with upright water sprouts.  I hope you keep your eyes out in spring for this beauty and follow it along for its deciduous journey.

Family: Ericaceae

Genus: Enkianthus

Specific epithet: campanulatus

Height: 7-16ft

Text referenced: Levy, R., & Taafe, G. (2004). Garden plants of Japan. Timber Press. (GVC Enkianthus)

Here is a beautifully written post from the Japanese Garden, by Garden guide and Miller Library volunteer Corinne Kennedy.