x Gordlinia grandiflora

Wonderful, large (2-4 inch), lightly-fragrant, white flowers are somewhat Camelia like and sometimes described as looking like a fried-egg with their lovely large golden centers, the flowers adorn the tree from late-summer into autumn where they look especially fetching along with showy bright-red fall color; a very special semi-evergreen 15-25' tree which is a rare intergeneric hybrid between two fine native trees (Franklinia and Gordolinia); can be a tad touchy, performs best in a sheltered spot with reasonably good soil. S/M-GDr

Years ago we stopped selling Franklinia because of its susceptibility to a variety of root pathogens, which lead to a short-lived tree. This new intergeneric hybrid between Franklinia alatamaha and Gordonia lasianthus is proving to be hardier and less cantankerous. Early, 2-inch white flowers appear in spring atop slender, glossy leaves. Some leaves will show red and orange. A tall, slender tree when young.

This bi-generic cross between Franklinia alatamaha and Gordonia lasianthos has semi-cupped and fringed large white flowers July - September. Unlike Franklinia, its leaves are evergreen, bright, polished green, and in exciting contrast to the occasional brilliant red or orange leaf! The flowers are a little larger and more open and outward-facing than those of Franklinia alatamaha, and the leaves more horizontal. It's rare plant appreciated by collectors, but is really anyone's plant, since it is so attractive and useful. It prefers rich soil and regular water and is fine with heat. Bees absolutely go crazy for it! 20 - 30' tall, 10 - 15' wide. Minimum temperature: 5?F

Mountain Gordlinia. New and very rare.

Just in the last decade was this fascinating bigeneric hybrid described by the hybridizer, Dr. Tom Ranney of North Carolina State University. This is a cross between the very hardy but somewhat finicky deciduous Franklinia alatamaha and the amenable but not so hardy evergreen Loblolly Bay, Gordonia lasianthus. The result is a plant that is evergreen and vigorous with larger (3"-4") white flowers than either parent. This will get to perhaps 30' tall and half as wide. This will also pick up nice red and orange colors in the fall. Hardiness is a good Zone 6 and this will be a fabulous addition to the late summer to fall flowering palette. As both parents are from the Southeast, good heat tolerance as well.

An exciting but seemingly unlikely combination this inter-generic hybrid from Thomas Ranney at NCSU combines the hardiness of Franklinia with the cultural ease of Gordonia. Early white 2 in. flowers, semi-evergreen foliage, and a robust tree-like growth habit make this an exciting new flowering tree addition to the trade.