We’re focusing on a special tree, Davidia involucrata. The tree blooms beautifully in May. The small flowers/fruits are surrounded by two white bracts (up to 15 cm) that give the tree a distinctive appearance. These resemble handkerchiefs or pennants, hence the name handkerchief tree or pennant tree. In the fall, round drupes with a diameter of about 3 cm appear, though they are often not very numerous. Over time, these change color from green to a reddish-brown hue.
It’s a beautiful tree to plant in a larger garden, on a larger green space, or in a park. The tree has an oval-shaped crown but often grows somewhat erratically. It can reach a height of about 15 meters and thrives best in somewhat moist and fertile soil. A spot that isn’t too windy, in full sun or partial shade, is ideal for the plant’s growth.
The tree is known by different names in many countries. The English call it ‘Dove Tree’ and the Germans ‘Taubenbaum,’ both of which mean ‘pigeon tree.’ When the wind blows, the white bracts seem to wave, which is why the tree is called the “Goodbye Tree” in China.
The French missionary Jean Pierre Armand David discovered the tree in 1869 in the mountainous Sichuan province in western China. This missionary was also the first to report the existence of the panda.
Location of photos: Oisterwijk, Haaren, and our nursery
| Application: | Large Gardens, Squares and Parks, Solitary Plants |
|---|---|
| Growing conditions: | (Partial) shade, Normal soil, Moist (clay) soil, Sunny |
| Growth habit: | Oval / ovoid |
| Flower color | White |
| Adult height: | Second size trees 6-12 m |
| Soil: | moist and fertile soil |
| Flowers: | bulbous heads protected by large white bracts (8-10 cm long) |
| Fruits: | 5 cm in diameter, about 3, hard, stone fruit with a long stem |
| Environmental factors: | preferably a not too windy spot in sun or semi-shade |
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