Habitat

• native to Japan
• zone 6, warmer parts of 5

Habit and Form

• a small to medium deciduous tree
• 25' to 45' tall
• rounded shape
• branching is spreading and crown
• is somewhat open and airy

Summer Foliage

• alternate, simple, deciduous leaves
• 3" to 7" long adn about half as wide
• elongated ovate shape
• buds are naked
• leaves are silvery white below adn bright green above
• leaf margins finely toothed

Autumn Foliage

• yellow-green
• not attractive

Flowers

• blooms in end of May to early June
• 5" to 10" long pnaicles of white flowers
• frangrant and prendulous
• individual blossoms are small with a 5-lobed corolla

Fruit

• 0.5" long bristly, dry drupe
• not ornamentally significant

Bark

• young bark is tan and matures to gray
• smooth until old

Culture

• full sun to light shade
• prefers well-drained, moist, acid soil
• transplant from container for best results
• plant as old a plant as is possible in northern locations
• avoid sites that are difficult in the winter

Landscape Use

• for showy, fragrant flowers
• specimen
• patio tree
• excellent for small residential landscapes

Liabilities

• rare adn hard to locate in commerce
• flowers attract bees
• although established older trees can tolerate -20^oF, younger trees will experience significant twig kill and bark split in harsh winters

ID Features

• large pendulous panicles of white flowers in early June
• naked buds

Propagation

• by cuttings
• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

• none