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Davidia involucrata

Davidia involucrata

Dove tree, Handkerchief tree, Ghost tree

synonym Davidia involucrata var. involucrata

Description

Davidia involucrata (pocket handkerchief tree, dove tree) originates from China but is endangered there due to loss of habitat. In its natural habitat it grows in forests with, amongst others, Acer palmatum, Cercidiphyllum japonicum and Cornus controversa. Davidia involucrata is named after catholic priest Armand David, who discovered and described it in 1869. In nature, the pocket handkerchief tree will reach a height of around twenty metres but in cultivation this is limited to twelve to fifteen metres tall. The wide crown shape nine to twelve metres across resembles that of a lime; wide pyramidal becoming wide egg-shaped to rounded in maturity.  

At the end of May or in early June the pocket handkerchief tree is a real eye-catcher with its striking abundant blooms. The small, fragrant flowers are arranged in red-violet spherical clusters on a stem measuring around six centimetres long. What stands out most of all, however, are the two pristine white bracts twenty centimetres long above the flowers, resembling handkerchiefs. Once it has finished flowering, the tree also bears striking, large, yellowy brown stone fruits.  The heart-shaped, toothed leaf emerges bronze and changes to green in summer. Unlike Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana, the leaf of Davidia involucrata has a hairy underside which makes it appear almost white. In the autumn, the rather unspectacular autumn foliage ranges from dark green, reddish-purple to brown. The pocket handkerchief tree has an attractive brown, peeling bark with an orange under bark and glabrous, red-brown twigs.

Davidia involucrata tolerates wind but should be planted in a sheltered position because it is sensitive to late frosts. The tree is only suitable for use in nutrient-rich and moisture-retentive soil, in sun or partial shade. This makes it an excellent choice for example in large gardens and parks. The species naturally forms a multi-stem tree and is, therefore, at its most attractive as such but can also be cultivated as a standard. Davidia involucrata blooms with age.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees multi-stemmed trees characteristic trees solitary shrubs

Topiary on stem

fval multi-stem umbrella

Use

Location

park central reservation large garden cemetery

Pavement

none none

Characteristics

Crown shape

rounded rounded wide egg-shaped wide egg-shaped wide pyramidal wide pyramidal

Crown structure

semi-open semi-open

Height

12 - 15 m

Width

9 - 12 m

Winter hardiness zone

5A - 8B

Aspects

Wind

tolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay light clay sand loamy soil

Nutrient level

moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

moist

Light requirements

sun partial shade

pH range

acidic neutral

Host plant/forage plant

bees butterflies

Extreme environments

tolerates air pollution

Get to know Ebben Nurseries

Visit our nurseries with multi-stem trees, climbing trees, trees for avenues and parks characteristic trees and solitary shrubs.

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Place order or further information?

Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Davidia involucrata? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
Call +31(0) 485 31 20 21 or email one of our advisors directly.
Our planting advisors

Photos

Magnify

Flowers

Flowers

heads striking pendulous big scented

Flower colour

cream-white brown-violet

Flowering period

May - June

Leaves

Leaf colour

buds bronze green underside grey-green

Leaves

deciduous cordate underside hairy dentate

Autumn colour

brown red-brown red-violet green-brown

Fruits

Fruit colour

yellow-brown

Fruits

striking large drupe

Bark

Bark colour

pale brown brown cinnamon-brown

Bark

peeling

Twigs

Twig colour

pale brown red-brown

Twigs

bare

Root system

Root system

deep moderately branched coarse roots fleshy roots

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Winter hardiness zone
OK
Coastal area
OK
Use
Location
OK
Pavement
OK
Host plant/forage plant
OK
Planting concepts
OK
Types of planting
Tree types
OK
Multi-stemmed trees
OK
Crown structure
OK
Crown shape
OK
Topiary on stem
OK
Topiary
OK
Height
m
-
m
OK
Width
m
-
m
OK
Aspects
Wind
OK
Soil
OK
Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
OK
Light requirements
OK
PH range
OK
Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
January
-
December
OK
Flower colour
OK
Leaf colour
OK
Autumn colour
OK
Fruit colour
OK
Bark colour
OK
Special features
OK
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