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Understory ID

9 years ago

Magnolia leaf in back. This deciduous shrub is blooming today in MD. Not very common here, it grows only in the understory, not in the full sun. Stems are rubbery and can be tied in a knot. Do you know it?

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Comments (6)

jeff_al
9 years ago
dirca palustris, eastern leatherwood.
maackia
9 years ago
For sure. Have you tried propagating Dirca?
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maackia
9 years ago

Reportedly a difficult plant to propagate. I thought for sure Sam would've tried his/her hand at it, but apparently not.
bengz6westmd
9 years ago
In spring along the Potomac River C&O canal I found these interesting understory flowering shrubs -- I know what they are:
sam_md
Original Author
8 years ago
hi beng12, looks like bladdernut aka Staphylea trifolia
sam_md
Original Author
8 years ago
about Leatherwood Bill Cullina writes ...a refined plant for the woodland garden but lacks the "container appeal" so important in our modern day cash-and-carry nursery business, and I imagine this partially explains its scarcity in the trade.

Here it is today in Maryland.

I'm pointing to volunteer seedlings under the parent shrubs. I have collected fruits the first week of June, removed the seed and sown it and had good success.

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