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
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