Euptelea

Euptelea

There are only 2 species within the genus Euptelea which is the only genus in the primitive family of Eupteleacae.
Both species of Euptelea prefer a sheltered location with full sun in a cool moist climates.
Enjoying the same dee, acidic fertile, well drained soil as Rhododendrons and Azaleas that can be planted to shade collections of such. They rarely need pruning other than to remove the occasional basal sucker. Virtually immune to insect pests and disease, the foliage remains attractively luxuriant all summer long. Somewhat difficult to transplant, they are generally very easy to grow once they survive the first year.
Propagation can be from the layering of suckers or the sowing of freshly collected seed.

Euptelea pleiosperma
An endangered tree native to western China that reaches up to 40 feet. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 7.5 feet; largest on record - 56 x 36 feet.
The toothed, wide elliptical leaves are up to 9 x 6 inches in size.
The tropical looking foliage appears early in spring, is pinkish at first, turning to glossy deep green above, whitish beneath. The autumn color is often a stunning scarlet-red.
The flowers in spring are reddish.
They are followed by showy, purple-red fruits that typically contain more than one seed, borne in mid summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 9. While it thrives in Maryland, it may not thrive much further south in the hot humid southeast.

* photo taken on May 5 2010 @ McCrillis Gardens, Bethesda, MD

* photos taken on Feb 8 2014 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

Euptelea polyandra
A medium-size to large tree native to Japan that reaches around 40 x 20 feet. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 5 feet; largest on record - 75 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 1 foot.
The jagged, deeply toothed, long apexed, heart shaped leaves are up to 6 inches in length.
The extremely beautiful foliage is red in spring and autumn.
The flowers appear early to mid spring before the foliage emerges.
The rough bark is grayish-brown.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 and does not enjoy the hot humid summers in the southeast but can be grown in the Mid Atlantic.

* photo taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD