Life Form:

Deciduous tree

Average Height:

Cultivation: 30-40' (9.1-12.2m) Wild: not typically taller than 35' (10.7m)

Bark Characteristics:

Exfoliating, brown

Bloom Characteristics:

Bell-shaped, shallow-lobed, flowers in drooping clusters of 2-5. Flowers are .5" (1.3 cm) across.

Fall Color:

Yellow

Foliage Characteristics:

Simple, alternate, ovate leaves with serrate margins. 4-5" long.

Fruit Characteristics:

Four winged dry drupes which mature in fall. 2" long.

Structure:

Oval, pyramid, or vase

Range:

E Central and SE USA

Habitat:

Low mountain slopes, stream banks

Description:

This native North American tree has beautiful, bell shaped flowers. Because the hanging flowers bloom around the same time as the tree’s leaves emerge, the flowers and fruit are best viewed from below.

Hardiness:

-30 - 20 F

Bloom Time:

April

Provenance:

From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin

Topic:

Trees  Search this

Living Collections  Search this

Common Name:

Carolina silverbell

Opossum wood

Silverbell tree

Snowdrop tree

Group:

[vascular plants]

Class:

Equisetopsida

Subclass:

Magnoliidae

Superorder:

Asteranae

Order:

Ericales

Family:

Styracaceae

Genus:

Halesia

Species:

carolina

Accession Number:

2015-2202A

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection

On Display:

Enid A. Haupt Garden

Data Source:

Smithsonian Gardens

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax7e4e15900-46cf-4e96-af6d-01eb047da078

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:ofeo-sg_2015-2202A