Halesia carolina

A select large shrub or small tree, 5-6 m tall and wide, luxurious in favourable areas; domed crown, funnel-shaped, main branches growing apart with arching twigs; medium to fast-growing the first 5-8 years, 20-35 cm a year, later less.

When leaves shoot, with touches of cream-white or pink, arranged in clusters, hanging bells, densely packed, end of April to May, some 10-14 days; only flowering fully after a few years.

Four wings, pale green stone fruit, light brown in September.

Elliptical, yellow-green to medium-green, grey hairs underneath, yellow to yellow-green in September.

Shallow and far-reaching, deep roots sensitive to all kinds of intervention.

Sun to light shade; needs warmth, frost hardy; avoid heat and drought; can break in wind, thus needs protection.

Likes nutritious, humic soil, fresh or moist; acidic to neutral, heavy soil with stagnant dampness is completely unsuitable.

Zone 6a