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American Bladdernut

Staphylea trifolia

Found in nutrient-rich bottomland forests, extending upslope over calcareous or mafic rocks. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

30
Good

Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 94%

Height
10–15 feet
Spread
10–15 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist

Space about 12.5 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count

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At a glance

Life cycle
Woody perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
April to May
Fruiting season
August to October

Recorded in 79 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 121 animals.

All wildlife of Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

3CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Staphylea

  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Papilio cresphontesEastern Giant Swallowtail
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Beetles 1
  • Molorchus bimaculatus

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Flies 3
  • Bombylius atriceps
  • Empis otiosa
  • Eristalis flavipes

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Adult butterflies / moths 1
  • Thanaos juvenalis

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Other wasps 1
  • Vespula maculata

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Other insects 1
  • Lygus pratensis

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

No records yet · Ants

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Staphyleaceae
Hardiness
Zones 3a–8b
Flower color
Green or white
Fruit begins
August
Fruit ends
October

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Bladdernut; Possum Cods

Conservation status

Virginia rankS5
Global rankG5
VA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources