BlueBell Arboretum & Nursery

Mail order trees, shrubs, conifers and woody climbers

Description

A lovely tree native to South-west China, Davidia involucrata has masses of glorious, white flower bracts in May and June (up to 15 cm long) on mature specimens. These beautiful flower bracts dance on wind, looking like fluttering handkerchiefs or doves and are followed by large green fruit later in the year.

The leaves are oval and bright green, sometimes turning shades of plum purple before falling in autumn. One of the most spectacular flowering garden trees once established!

Supplied Size: 3L containers (young plants at 25 - 40 cm tall)

Features

• Common name: Pocket Handkerchief Tree
• Position: Full sun.
• Soil: Well drained, fertile soil.
• Hardiness: Hardy.
• Flowering Period: May
• Flower Colour: White
• Rate of Growth: Moderate.
• Habit: Medium sized tree with a branching, rounded crown.
  • Height: up to 12 - 15 m (40 - 50 ft).
  • Spread: 10 m (32 ft).
• Notes: Davidia can take a long time to flower - 15+ years is considered typical.

Further Information

Davidia involucrata was discovered by the French missionary, Pere David in 1869. He sent seeds back to Paris and were they promptly preserved in formaldehyde! Thirty five years later it was introduced to Britain in 1904 by Ernest Wilson of Chipping Camden.

The seeds which Wilson sent back to Veitch's nursery were promptly sown and, when after two years they hadn't germinated, were discarded onto a compost heap where they germinated the following spring! Interestingly each seed is capable of producing four seedlings which accounts for plants in the wild often being multi stemmed.

Famous for not flowering as young plants, you may expect flower bracts after fifteen years or so but occasional plants will flower when they are only eight years old.

Perfectly hardy, Davidia appreciate some shelter from the strongest winds and are quite happy in almost all fertile soils. In most parts of the UK it is a medium sized tree but can be quite tall in warm gardens in the south.

Extract from an information poster in our arboretum