Heptacodium miconioides

The 'Seven Son Flower of Zhejiang'. Only introduced from China in 1981 this vigorous, easy, very hardy and attractive large shrub has proved its worth. The foliage has 3 prominent veins and each leaf, opposite on the stem, curls under the branch creating a tube effect; very different! Clusters of scented white starry flowers are borne in late summer, the calyx turning red if it's warm. The bark is a very pale beige and an attractive feature in winter. Leaves as a multi-stem or cut back to one trunk for a more tree-like effect. This gets to at least 3m tall.