Leaf
Agnieszka Kwiecień, wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Handkerchief tree
Davidia involucrata Baill.
Also known as: Dove tree, Ghost tree
Family: Nyssaceae
10 to 20 m tall
Planted as a specimen, cool, deep, well-drained soils
Flowering: May
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy, to about -20°C, often takes several years to flower for the first time
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
The large white bracts of the handkerchief tree are not petals but modified leaves surrounding a tiny inflorescence — their swaying in the wind made this Chinese tree extremely sought after by Western collectors from its discovery in the 19th century.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, heart-shaped, toothed, slightly downy
🌸 Flowers
Small globular inflorescence surrounded by two large unequal white bracts, evoking hanging handkerchiefs
🍎 Fruits
Large green drupe with a very hard stone, falling in autumn
🪵 Bark
Greyish-brown, flaking into scales with age
🗺️ Distribution
Native to central China; planted in France as a rare collector's ornamental tree
🐝 Value for pollinators
Flowers inconspicuous but the large white bracts visually attract many pollinating insects
✂️ Horticultural uses
Rare and spectacular ornamental tree, planted for its huge white bracts that seem to float in the tree like handkerchiefs in the wind
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No notable toxicity known
🌿 Other Nyssaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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