Staphylea Trifolia

American bladdernut is a spreading deciduous shrub of eastern North American woods and riverbanks. Dark green leaves are divided into three finely toothed leaflets, while pendent clusters of creamy white bells appear in spring and attract early insects. These develop into distinctive three-lobed, inflated pods that turn from yellow-green to papery brown and rattle when shaken. Yellow autumn foliage adds a final season of colour. Hardy, adaptable and unusual, Staphylea trifolia is an excellent woodland-edge shrub for moist, well-drained soil.