Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Chrumps

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

Show all photos

Halesia tetraptera

Also Known As

Halesia carolina
Carolina Silverbell
Snowdrop Tree

Plant type

tree, shrub

size

H: 25'-40'
W: 25'-30'

planting zones

3a-9b

More Options

Halesia tetraptera plant details

Halesia tetraptera is a moderate-growing broadleaf deciduous shrub or tree with green foliage. In spring white flowers emerge followed by green fruit. Attracts birds. Grows well with sun and regular water. Does well in acidic and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Halesia tetraptera

Plant type: shrub or tree
Plant family: styracaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 25 FT - 30 FT - wide, 25 FT - 40 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in spring
Uses: fall color

GROWING CONDITIONS for Halesia tetraptera

USDA Zones: 3a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: regular

Soil needs: acidic and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This wonderful understory shrubby tree to 35' is especially lovely in the spring when the branches are festooned with small clusters of 2-5 white bells which flutter in the breeze, they appear just before or in unison with the leaf emergence and they are quite showy, in the fall they become interesting four-winged, brown, nut-like fruits which look pretty with the golden fall color and persist into winter. S-PSh/M

By: Forestfarm

Mountain Silverbell is a very attractive flowering tree species that is native throughout the Southeast. It has a medium growth rate and develops a uniform shape, typically in a multi-trunk form. In mid-spring the trees are covered with hanging white flowers that are particularly attractive when viewed from underneath. Mountain Silverbell grows well under a large number of conditions, but fertile soil and summer irrigation drastically increases the flower production on young trees.

Also commonly known as Halesia carolina.

By: Red Panda Nursery

Medium-sized, flowering tree. In the same family as the Snowbell. Shape is rounded and broad. Flowers are white and bell-shaped in clusters of five. Blooms in early May. Growth Rate medium

By: Garden World

Ringing in spring, clusters of snow white _ to 1 inch bells hang all along deciduous Halesia's graceful branches. The finely serrated, oval leaves provide a flash of yellow in autumn, and the four-winged, brown fruit adds winter interest. With its rounded form, Halesia is a fine choice for understory shrubs like Hydrangea 'White Dome' and Fothergilla 'Mt. Airy'. Flourishing in cool, adequately moist, humus-rich soil, we like to position it to be viewed from below. Grows to 12' high in 15 yrs. Medium Band.

By: Digging Dog Nursery

Vigorous, 60-80 ft. tree having abundant, bell-shaped flowers on previous year's wood. Flower clusters create an endearing effect, especially when viewed from below or through filtered sunlight.

By: Heritage Seedlings

One of the best small native trees. Handsome lawn tree. Set off best w/ an evergreen background. Rhododendrons grow well beneath it. Flowers profusely. One of the best native trees for shady habitats. Common in the southern Appalachians. We can't praise the pest/disease resistant tree enough. Yellow fall color. Pendulous white bell-shaped flowers. Choice! Usually tops out at 30' in urban environments but can 'stretch' as tall as 40-60' in the woods but that would be the rarest exception. Zone 4 per Ohio State University.

By: Lazy S'S Farm Nursery

Early in the spring this spreading, shrubby tree has branches draped with thousands of white clusters of nodding, bell shaped flowers. It is sometimes called the Snowdrop Tree because of its snowy white bells. Flowers are followed by 4-winged, pear shaped fruit. Growing to a 30' tree, it flowers young and grows relatively rapidly.