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Halesia carolina

Halesia carolina

Carolina Silverbell

synonym Halesia tetraptera

Description

Halesia carolina (Carolina silverbell) is a delightful large shrub or small, usually multi-stem tree. This is in contrast to Halesia monticola, which develops more readily into a tree. In the wild the Carolina silverbell can reach in excess of twenty metres tall and wide but in cultivation the size is mostly limited to eight metres tall and wide. It occurs primarily as undergrowth on mountain slopes and along watercourses in damp, acidic sandy soils, on floodplains and on the edge of wetlands in the South-Eastern United States. Halesia carolina is found growing here with Acer rubrum, Quercus alba and Liriodendron tulipifera.

At the end of April and early May Halesia carolina produces bundles of hanging white bellflowers on its still bare branches. Another attractive quality is the autumn colour: beautiful dark yellow. In the summer, the oval, virtually smooth-edged foliage is dark green. After flowering unusual winged fruits appear and the wings are edible and taste of cucumber. This attribute makes the Carolina silverbell of use in food forests too. In turn, the hard nuts in these fruits are beloved by birds. The young branches are striped and the bark of older branches turns grey to brown to black, attractively ribbed and grooved.

The Carolina silverbell has a graceful habit and is one of the most decorative spring-flowering trees in gardens and parks. Halesia carolina prefers sandy, acidic, damp but well-drained soils, high in organic matter and in a sunny position or in partial shade. In order to fully enjoy the flowers, the tree can be best planted against a darker background such as a forest edge.

Types of planting

Tree types

multi-stemmed trees characteristic trees solitary shrubs

Topiary on stem

fval multi-stem umbrella

Use

Location

park large garden cemetery

Pavement

none none

Planting concepts

food forest

Characteristics

Crown shape

wide vase-shaped wide vase-shaped

Crown structure

semi-open semi-open

Height

5 - 8 m

Width

5 - 8 m

Winter hardiness zone

6A - 8B

Aspects

Wind

slightly tolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay peaty sand loamy soil

Nutrient level

rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

moist

Light requirements

sun partial shade

pH range

acidic neutral

Host plant/forage plant

bees birds humans nectar value 2 pollen value 2

Get to know Ebben Nurseries

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

Make an appointment

Place order or further information?

Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Halesia carolina? 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

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Seasonal colours

Halesia carolina seizoenskleur
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Flowers

Flowers

bell-shaped striking pendulous

Flower colour

white

Flowering period

April - May

Leaves

Leaf colour

dark green

Leaves

deciduous ovoid serrate

Autumn colour

yellow-brown

Fruits

Fruit colour

grey-brown green

Fruits

striking winged edible drupe

Bark

Bark colour

grey-brown grey-black

Bark

peeling deeply furrowed furrowed striped

Twigs

Twig colour

grey-brown

Twigs

bare striped

Root system

Root system

deep highly branched

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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Geographic location
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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