Davidia involucrata
(Dove Tree)
Family - Nyssaceae
Category - Tree
Origin - C & W China
Discovered By - Discovered by Abbe Pere David, introduced by Ernest Wilson
Year of Introduction - 1904
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer
Hardiness - H5
Height - 15m
Width - 10m
Location - The White Garden
Description: A medium-sized Deciduous tree with a broadly conical outline and ascending to horizontal branches. Mature trees have attractive, silvery bark. Mid to bright green leaves are ovate to heart-shaped and have coarsely toothed margins. Very small flowers have no petals and are held in rounded clusters. The flowers have deep purple Anthers and each flowerhead is surrounded by long, drooping white Bracts that are very showy. The flowers and Bracts are produced in abundance in late spring and are followed by large, round, greenish-brown fruit. The tree may take many years to flower after planting.
Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Additional common names - Handkerchief Tree, Ghost Tree
Flower:
Very small, apetalous flowers have deep purple anthers and are held in rounded clusters. Each flowerhead is surrounded by two, long, drooping white bracts of uneven length. The flowers are produced in abundance along the branches in May and are followed by large, round, greenish-brown fruit.
Flower colour: Purple, white
Flower shape: Apetalous flowers held in clusters with long bracts
Flowering time: May
Foliage:
Mid to bright green leaves are ovate to Cordate in shape and have Dentate margins. The young leaves are flushed with deep red towards the margins and have fine, silky white hairs on the undersides when young. The leaves are deeply veined and have long petioles. The foliage is Alternately arranged on the branches.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Ovate to cordate
Propagation:
Cuttings, seed.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moisture-retentive soil that is well-drained.