Epaulette Tree, Fragrant Epaulette Tree                        te-ro-STI-raks HIS-pi-da

• Broadleaf, deciduous shrub or tree, as a shrub to 20 ft (6 m), a tree may reach 50 ft (15 m), spreading branches, rounded, open crown; bark gray, shredding on stems, becoming corky and furrowed.  Leaves alternate, simple, ovate-oblong, 8-20 cm long, 4-10 cm wide, rounded or wedge shaped (cuneate) at base, tip acute, margins finely bristly toothed (dentate) (vein ends extend past the blade margin), green above and gray-green below.  Flowers in axillary pendulous clusters, 10-20 cm, fragrant, cream-white, 5 petals, stamens much longer than petals; bloom in early summer (May-June).  Fruit cylindrical, 1 cm long, 10 ribbed, densely bristled.
• Sun for best flowering, well-drained soil, prefers acid soil.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 4         Native to Japan and China.
• hispida: bristly, the fruit
• Oregon State Univ. campus: near southwest corner of West International Hall.