Eupteleas are deciduous small hardy trees from the Himalayas and west China. They are closely related to Cercidiphyllum, Eucommia, Tetracentron and Trochodendron so one should anticipate unusual if by no means spectacular flowers.
E. pleiosperma was first introduced into the UK shortly after 1900 by Ernest Wilson. As a small tree it grows with us to around 20ft in height with a similar spread in maturity. The leaves are ovate and wedge shaped at the base, they have a narrow point at the apex and are irregularly toothed. Around 6in in length.
The flowers have no sepals or petals and are bisexual. They appear in clusters before the leaves appear and have reddish-green anthers. Fairly inconspicuous the flowers may be but the yellow and red autumn colour is not. The fruits are lance shaped and contain a single seed.
This is really a tree for the collector of rarities but one which has merit in its distinct and handsome leaf form as well as its autumn show.
