Tianshan® Seven-Sons Flower Tree

Tianshan® Seven-Son Flower Tree is the perfect tree for a smaller garden. The delicate, multi-stemmed trunks with exfoliating bark hold up an open, airy canopy of long, twisted leaves throughout the summer. Fall is when this tree blooms and shines. The clusters of white, seven-petaled flowers are highly fragrant and produce red fruits and winged seeds that last through the winter. Tianshan® is named after the mountain range in China, where it is native, even though this variety is bred in California.

Seven-Son Flowers Tree can be grown as a large shrub for informal hedging or as a multi- or single-trunk tree as an ornamental specimen. Whichever form is chosen, this plant has a graceful, upright, vase shape that requires little maintenance. Pair Tianshan® with early blooming shrubs to provide nectar for pollinators all growing season. Some great companion shrubs include Osmanthus, Camelia, California Lilac, and Crapemyrtle.

Tianshan® Seven-Son Flower Tree Care

Tianshan® is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions. Full to part sun, average soil texture, and good drainage will help this tree/shrub thrive. Tianshan® performs best in hardiness zones 5-9, with little chance of being injured by cold winter weather. Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the root ball. Spread the roots out and allow the root flare to remain above ground when planting. Mulch the root and drip zone well with 2-3 inches of organic compost or arborist chips to help the soil stay cool and retain moisture. Provide one inch of water once or twice weekly to encourage a deep, robust root system. 

Pruning Tianshan® correctly from the beginning is crucial for training this tree into either a shrub or multi-stemmed tree. For a multi-stemmed tree, choose 3-5 of the strongest and most upright branches to train as the leaders. Regular pruning of unwanted side growth will be needed to keep the stems exposed. Tianshan® is a quick and vigorous grower. Allow growth to fill in over the summer and shear back branches to the desired length in late winter. This plant blooms on the current season’s growth, so pruning during dormancy will not remove flower buds. Pruning after the tree blooms in fall is also safe and will not result in bloom loss the following year.

Tianshan® Seven-Sons Flower Tree Spacing

The compact size of Tianshan® makes this tree great for planting either singly in a smaller garden or as a hedge or large grouping if space permits. The mature height of 8-12 feet and spread of 5-7 feet will be reached relatively quickly, providing a good amount of shade to any smaller plants around it. The root system is not considered invasive and will not damage house foundations or driveways. The root ball should be kept at least 10 feet from home foundations. If planting in a large group, space plants 8 feet from each other, center on center.

Tianshan® Seven-Sons Flower Tree Information