Area of origin: Central Europe
Adult Dimensions: Height up to 4 m, width up to 4 m
Foliage: Deciduous
Soil Type: Deep, moist and humus rich, tolerates limey
Hardiness: Hardy to -20°C.
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun.
Properties and uses:
The Common Bladdernut is a widespread wild looking tree. Its green leaves composed of oval leaflets turn yellow in autumn, just before falling.
Long, hanging clusters of nice, bell-shaped, white flowers appear in early summer. Their subtle fragrance reminds of the coconut or the orange tree flowers perfumes.
They are followed by pale green, inflated bladder-like fruit. These fruits contain a nut which itself contains an almond, which is edible and tastes and looks like pistachios. The nuts are quite hard, and people used to make rosaries with them, that's why the French name for this tree is Patenôtrier (from the prayer Pater Noster).
This tree is in perfect harmony in our country landscapes and can be used in hedgerows, for example.