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Franklinia alatamaha

Also Known As

Franklin Tree
Franklinia

Plant type

tree

size

H: 10'-20'
W: 6'-12'

planting zones

5a-8b

More Options

Franklinia alatamaha plant details

Franklinia alatamaha is a slow-growing broadleaf deciduous tree with green foliage. In fall and summer white flowers emerge followed by brown fruit. Features glossy texture. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in acidic, rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Franklinia alatamaha

Plant type: tree
Plant family: theaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 6 FT - 12 FT - wide, 10 FT - 20 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in fall and summer
Uses: fall color, fragrant, rare, small tree

GROWING CONDITIONS for Franklinia alatamaha

USDA Zones: 5a - 8b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular

Soil needs: acidic, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Slow-growing tree with an open airy habit. In late summer into fall fragrant, showy three-inch white flowers with clusters of golden-yellow stamens appear. Elongated, dark green leaves turn red, orange, and pink in the fall. Georgia origin. Unusual and attractive. A wonderful historical perspective can be found under the title of the New Georgia Encyclopedia.

By: Bloom River Gardens

A rarity, this tree has an upright spreading habit and lustrous dark green leaves. Fall color is brilliant oranges and reds. White 5-petaled fragrant flowers appear in the late July to fall. Best in full sun to light shade in a well-drained location with rich organic matter. John Bartram is said to have found this plant on the banks of the Altamaha River in Georgia in 1770. No plants have been found in the wild since 1790 and all the trees in cultivation today are said to have originated from the one found in 1770. A must have for any experienced collector!

By: Garden World

Always sought after, this uncommon tree is celebrated because of its legendary origin in horticulture as well as its role as an extraordinary landscape plant. Camellia-like flowers are borne from early autumn until frost. Brilliant, shiny autumn foliage-a plant for your connoisseur clients.

By: Heritage Seedlings

White camellia-like flowers for a month or more in the summer. Excellent red fall color. Among the rarest trees. All existing trees are descendants from trees John Bartram planted in his Philadelphia garden. They are completely lost in the wild. Easily grown in a container and makes an notable speciman plant. 8-10' in ten years.

By: Fantastic Plants

Deciduous shrub, related to camellia/ white flowers in summer/ leaves are red in summer-fall/ extinct in the wild Zone 5-8. 30' Eastern US, part sun, moist, well drained

By: Keeping it Green Nursery

The Franklin Tree is native to North America and is named after Benjamin Franklin. This is an excellent small tree native to Georgia, can reach a maximum of 30 feet but it is usually smaller in a sunny landscape It is somewhat pyramidal when young becoming more rounded with age with many thin stems and trunks. It is best used as a specimen or in borders, to show off its fragrant, white, camellia-like flowers, three inches across, that bloom from July to late summer when few other trees bloom. The bright green foliage turns a vivid orange-red in the fall while some flowers are still in bloom. Ridged grey bark with prominent vertical white striations adds winter interest. Franklin-Tree typically grows with numerous vertical stems or trunks originating at or near ground level

By: Oregon Grown Tree Farm

A good candidate for the best place on your property (B. Miles)... shiny dark-green leaves are a perfect foil for large white camellia-like flowers in late summer & then turn red in fall; unknown in the wild since the 1790's. PSh/Med/GdDrain

By: Forestfarm

White fragrant flowers late summer, fall color shades of red-orange. Moist humusy acidic. Zones 6-8.

By: Lael's Moon Garden

The Franklin Tree was found on a river bank in Georgia and has since disappeared from the wild. The tree will grow to about 20', has rich scarlet fall color and flowers at the same time; they are a challenge to grow and I don't guarantee them. zone 7

By: Whitman Farms

A small, handsome specimen tree or large shrub valued for the showy white, fragrant flowers and good fall color. It should be placed in a place of prominence in the garden. An aristocrat because of its interesting history. Rarely available in the trade. This is a very choice tree. Open, airy appearance. Perfect, white 3 1/2" blooms followed by memorable brown seed capsules. Needs a protected spot in Zone 5. Native to Georgia but extinct in the wild. Some say full sun for Franklinia but expert U. of Conn. says Sun/PS and they generally know whereof they speak! Plants are fussy about drainage and will get root rot if in poorly drained soil.

By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

Named in honor of Benjamin Franklin by John and William Bartrum who discovered this small tree in the 1700's in Georgia, this tree is now considered to be extinct in the wild. It is thought that all specimens commercially available today are descended from this discovery. Franklinia is valuable for it's fall blooming camelia like flowers and it's attractive somewhat glossy elliptical foliage that turns red in autumn. Grow a moist, slightly acidic to neutral soil as a small tree with a single leader or as a multistmmed large shrub in the open woodland garden, where it will reach 10-12'.

By: Avant Gardens

A rare and interesting small tree, to 20' now found only in cultivation. The large leaves are lustrous green above and pale beneath in summer and turn to scarlet crimson before dropping in the fall. Lovely, creamy white cup-shaped flowers open during hot, late summer days continuing on into fall some years. It's a striking show: white flowers at the same time as the scarlet foliage! Native to Georgia, but hardy to Massachusetts. It is not a fast grower and prefers moist but well drained, acidic soil.

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

A very ornamental North American native tree. White flowers in fall just in time for the burgundy leaves for a great show! Slow growing to 15' or more. Moist rich soil.

Franklinia alatamaha plant details

CHARACTERISTICS OF Franklinia alatamaha

GROWING CONDITIONS for Franklinia alatamaha

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Garden photo gallery of Franklinia alatamaha

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How to Grow Franklinia alatamaha

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