Davidia involucrata
Common name:
Dove Tree
Handkerchief Tree
Pronunciation:
da-VID-ee-a in-vol-u-KRA-ta
Family:
Nyssaceae, Cornaceae
Genus:
Type:
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
No
- Broadleaf deciduous tree, 20-40 ft (6-12 m), pyramidal. Leaves alternate, simple, broad-ovate leaf (5-14 cm long), margin has acuminate teeth, sometimes nearly entire. Flowers are on a 2 cm sphere on the end of a 7.5 cm peduncle which is subtended by two white bracts (the "dove") of unequal size (about 10 and 18 cm long). The fruit is ovoid, about 4 cm long, greenish at first, then russeted.
- Sun to part shade (esp. afternoon), well-drained rich soil; protect from wind.
- Hardy to USDA Zone 6 Native to western China. Discovered by the French missionary Armand David in 1896 (hence Davidia) and introduced in 1904 by Ernest Wilson.
- May take a decade or more to reach flowering size. However. the selection 'Sonoma' reportedly "blooms reliably at an early age" with white bracts to 10 inches (25 cm) long.
- involucrata: circle or collection of bracts
- Corvallis: Central Park, north central area
- Oregon State Univ. campus: southwest corner of the Memorial Union Quad; east side of Gilbert Hall; north side of Gilfilan Auditorium
Click image to enlarge
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plant habit, start of flowering
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bract and leaf development
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plant habit, spring flowering
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flowering branches
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flowers and leaves
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mature leaves
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flower
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true flower development
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developing fruit (I)
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plant habit, summer
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summer foliage
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developing fruit (II)
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summer fruit
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plant habit and leaf, fall
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winter fruit
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plant habit of a young tree, winter
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trunk, bark
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twig, winter
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winter twigs and buds
