Enkianthus campanulatus (Redvein Enkianthus)

Enkianthus campanulatus (Redvein Enkianthus) is a handsome, upright, bushy shrub with spectacular fall color and attractive clusters of nodding, bell-shaped, red-veined, creamy-yellow to whitish-pink flowers from late spring to mid-summer. Its elliptic, blue-green leaves are crowded in clusters at the branch tips and turn magnificent shades of orange and red in fall. Generally pest and disease free.

Enkianthus campanulatus (Redvein Enkianthus) is a handsome, upright, bushy shrub with spectacular fall color and attractive clusters of nodding, bell-shaped, red-veined, creamy-yellow to whitish-pink flowers from late spring to mid-summer. Its elliptic, blue-green leaves are crowded in clusters at the branch tips and turn magnificent shades of orange and red in fall.

  • This deciduous shrub grows up to 6-10 ft. tall (180-300 cm) with a spread of 4-6 ft. (120-180 cm).
  • A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is best grown in average, medium, well-drained, acidic soils. Prefers organically rich, moist, peaty soils with a pH below 6.
  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society and winner of the Cary Award which recognizes plants that are particularly adequate for New England, offer superior landscape appeal, are winter hardy and pest resistant. 
  • Generally pest and disease free
  • Mass in mixed shrub borders for dramatic summer blooms. Great flowering shrub with Rhododendrons. Perfect as a specimen plant or for foundation plantings.
  • Blooms on the previous year’s growth, so pruning should occur immediately after flowering.
  • Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings
  • Native to open woodlands in Japan
  • Main cultivars:
    'Albiflorus' – with creamy white flowers and little red markings. A compact plant with good orange-red fall color
    'Red Bells' – one of the most popular cultivars with flowers featuring reddish edges. Good fall color and upright growth habit
    'Showy Lantern' – with deep pink flowers and dense branching from the ground up. Summer foliage is dark green and the leaves turn scarlet in fall.
    'Sikokianus' – with maroon flower buds which open to reveal brick -red flowers.
    'Variegata' – with leaves edged with white that are held on reddish stems. 

Requirements

Hardiness 5
– 8

Heat Zones 4
– 8

Climate Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Enkianthus
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)Summer (Early,Mid)Fall
Height 6'
– 10'
(180cm
– 3m)
Spread 4'
– 6'
(120cm
– 180cm)
Spacing 48″
– 72″
(120cm
– 180cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden