Franklinia alatamaha
Franklinia, Franklin Tree
Theaceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to southeastern United States
- zone 5
Habit and Form
- a small deciduous tree
- 15' to 25' tall
- almost as wide
- rounded to conical dense crown
- upright
- medium texture
- slow growth rate
Summer Foliage
- alternate leaf arrangement
- simple, deciduous leaves
- oblong leaf shape
- 4" to 8" long
- serrate leaf margin
- bright green leaf color
Autumn Foliage
- orange-red fall color
- showy
Flowers
- white flowers
- blooms in summer
- fragrant
- showy
- 3" in diameter
Fruit
- dry rounded fruit
- up to 1" in diameter
- not ornamentally important
Bark
- branches low on trunk
- white stripes along bark
- greenish brown twigs
- older bark is gray
- winter interest
Culture
- prefers well-drained, rich, acidic soil
- needs moisture
- partial sun to full
Landscape Use
- specimen
- patio tree
- for fragrant flowers
- good four season plant
Liabilities
- root rot
- needs extra watering
ID Features
- pubescent, grayish terminal buds
- alternate leaf arrangement
- oblong leaf shape
- serrated leaf margin
- white flowers in summer
Propagation
- by cuttings
- by seed
Cultivars/Varieties
- none