Prone to water molds, possibly why it was dying out in wild when first discovered. Largest one at Seattle arboretum was grown on sandy soil. Habit sparse but combination of large, stewartialike autumn flowers and large leaves turning reddish at same time unique among hardy ornamentals.
not trying to be smart here but try checking out google: http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=franklinia&meta=
Not an especially easy tree to grow - I've had 2 die on me. When grown well, as the one Ron mentioned, it's a spectacular sight in fall, as flowers and leaf coloration happens simultaneously. I've seen a couple of named cultivars of this listed on nursery sites, including 'Wiltonbury' and 'Ben's Best', supposedly hardier than species.
Although you are in the same hardiness zone where the tree was first discovered, the plant is said to perform better in Zones 6-7. http://www.floridata.com/ref/F/fran_ala.cfm
Maybe back East those zones aren't as hot as southern Zone 8. Evergreen rhododendrons die in Dixie, too, because it is too hot. The Seattle arboretum has franklinias 17 ft. tall and 13 ft. tall at present.
Klein, in Gardens of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley (Temple Univ. Press 1995), mentions this tree in the collections of several of the arboreta and gardens around Philadelphia. That makes sense if Bartram shared the seeds of his discovery with fellow horticulturalists of his time. A local rare plant nursery here immediately sells out of this plant whenever they have it, often to customers down south. The largest specimen at UWBG is actually braced now – planted in 1949. So many of the photographs on a google image search are of flowers or show red autumn leaves, but the taller Seattle specimen holds these colors for some time before it drops its leaves. (UWBG - November 14, 2005)
Thank you for the info - this Franklinia is 24" at the base and said to be 100 years old. It has limbs over 12" in diameter, and some are dying. Could it be that this tree has finally reached its lifespan?
Thank you all for the info - this Franklinia is 24" diameter at the base and is said to be approx. 100 years old (front yard tree- old section of town). It has limbs over 12" in diameter and is over 20' tall and over 20' spread. Some of the limbs are in decline and some have died. Could it be that this tree has reached its lifespan?
Bob, there are 2 at Harvard's Arnold Arboretum planted in 1905 that are still alive. Maybe you could contact them for more info. Do you know if 'your' tree has been included in the census? http://www.bartramsgarden.org/franklinia/census_info.html Newt
Anyone familiar with Polyspora axillaris? Syn. Franklinia axillaris and Gordonia axillaris. It's a tree from south eastern China that I'm hoping to find in cultivation somewhere in the US or Canada. So far the only hits have been Australian.
