Pollinator plant

American Bladder Nut

Staphylea trifolia

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

17 names · 11 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (10)
Dutch
  • Driebladige pimpernoot
  • Pimpernoot
French
  • Staphylier trifolié[2][4]
  • Staphylier à trois folioles[2][4]
  • Staphylée à trois feuilles
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 美国省沽油[4]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 美國省沽油[4]
Czech
  • klokoč trojlistý[4]
Finnish
  • amerikankotapähkinä[4]
German
  • Amerikanische Pimpernuss[2][4]
Polish
  • Kłokoczka trójlistkowa[4]
  • Kłokoczka trójlistna[4]
Russian
  • Клекачка трёхлистная[4]
Slovak
  • klokoč trojlistý[4]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Staphylea trifolia — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • American Bladdernut — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Bladdernut — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Staphylea trifolia.
[2] Staphylea trifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • American bladdernut — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Amerikanische Pimpernuss — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • bladdernut — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Staphylier trifolié — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Staphylier à trois folioles — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Staphylea trifolia ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • American bladdernut (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 151847; taxon 6ZGB3.
[4] Staphylea trifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • American bladdernut — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Amerikanische Pimpernuss — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • bladdernut — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Staphylier trifolié — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Staphylier à trois folioles — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Клекачка трёхлистная — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • klokoč trojlistý — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Kłokoczka trójlistna — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • 美國省沽油 — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • amerikankotapähkinä — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • Kłokoczka trójlistkowa — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • klokoč trojlistý — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
  • 美国省沽油 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 126169; Staphylea trifolia.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Staphylea trifolia is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Staphyleaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
3.05–4.57 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
3.05–4.57 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Ascending; Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasional Flooding; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
E. Canada to CE. & E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Nut tree, Shrub
Size
Small
Dimensions
4.00 m high × 2.50 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-8
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Seed, Oil
Functions
Insecticide, Oil
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
1 out of 5

Seeds of this plant can be eaten both raw and cooked, similar to pistachios. They can replace walnuts in making chocolate cookies. Additionally, a sweet edible oil can be extracted from these seeds, which can be used for cooking.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Staphylea trifolia — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2479786; ID 6ZGB3; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2479786; ID 6ZGB3; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Staphylea trifolia — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Staphylea trifolia — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 330134; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1088389, 1088390, 1088391, 1088392, 1088393, 1088394, 1088395, 1088396, 1088397, 1088398, 1088399, 1088400, 1088401, 1088402, 1088403, 1088404, 1088405, 1088406, 1088407, 1088408, 1088409, 1088410

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.