Handkerchief tree: fruits, varieties & location
The filigree bracts of the handkerchief trees look like handkerchiefs blowing in the wind. With a little patience, you can also enjoy the fascinating phenomenon in your own garden.
Although the handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) is not native to our country, the pretty woody plant can be planted in your own garden. We explain here which location is suitable and what the situation is like for the handkerchief tree in winter.
Contents
Handkerchief tree: characteristics and origin
The handkerchief tree of the tupelo family (Nyssaceae) is native to moist mountain forests in western and central China. In 1869, the naturalist Armand David discovered the woody plant in Tibet and sent planting material to the Botanical Garden of Paris. The species name involucrata translates to “surrounded by bracts” and describes the conspicuous bracts of the handkerchief tree.
Tip: The handkerchief tree is also called the dove tree. It is also sometimes known as the ghost tree.
Davidia involucrata is the only species within the genus Davidia and comes in two varieties, var. vilmoriniana and var. laeta, the former being almost exclusively cultivated. Handkerchief trees grow up to 20 m high in their natural habitat. The large, deciduous leaves of the handkerchief tree are alternate. They have a serrated leaf margin and are silky haired on the underside of the leaf. The petioles grow up to 7 cm long, the leaf blades up to 15 cm long. In autumn, the leaves turn yellowish-brown to bronze and then fall off. The handkerchief tree shows its flowers between May and June for a maximum of 3 weeks at a time. The globular flowerheads consist of numerous male flowers and one female with a light green pistil and reduced stamens. They are surrounded by usually two, more rarely three, conspicuous bracts, which gave the tree its name. At first, the bracts are coloured green, which enables them to photosynthesize. Later they turn white and thus attract pollinators.
The most important pollinators are pollen-collecting bees, which prefer to fly to the white, not the green bracts, according to a Chinese-German research group. The bracts also protect the flowers from heavy rain. Flowering handkerchief trees are usually between 15 and 20 years old. When the flowers wither, the bracts take on a brownish colour. The drupes usually remain on the tree longer than the falling leaves. They are stalked, 3 to 4 cm long and elliptical in shape.
Beautiful handkerchief tree varieties
Although the tree stays on the small side in our gardens anyway: there will not be room for Davidia involucrata in every garden. Fortunately, there are still somewhat smaller varieties on the market.
- ‘Sonoma’ grows to only a manageable 6 to 8 m tall, making it suitable for smaller gardens. It grows between 15 and 25 cm per year and ends up about 4.5 m wide.
- ‘Columnaris‘ grows upright and columnar. For small gardens, this variety is a good choice, because the handkerchief tree grows only up to 3 m high and about 2 m wide.
Cultivation: planting and location
In its native habitat, Davidia involucrata grows in cool and moist areas. These conditions should also be present in the garden. The handkerchief tree prefers a sunny to semi-shady location with moist, nutrient-rich and well-drained soil – waterlogging is not tolerated, nor is drought. Give this special tree enough space according to its size, ideally in a place protected from the wind.
If a suitable location was found, the optimal period for planting is the spring. First, dig a planting hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball of the purchased tree. If necessary, lay a drainage layer of chippings or gravel in case of stagnant soils, so that the water can drain off well later. Then the handkerchief tree can be placed in the planting hole and fill the voids with garden soil. Finally, at least two tree stakes are needed to tie the tree well. The tying not only helps prevent the tree from toppling over, but is primarily intended to restrict the movement of the trunk. This is because trunk movement would inevitably transfer to the root ball in the soil and because the newly formed fine roots to break off. As a result, the growth of the tree would be greatly slowed down. Usually it is enough to tie a young tree for about three years. Therefore, when buying make sure to use strong and durable ropes. If the stakes become weathered or the rope loop around the tree gradually becomes too tight, the construction should be renewed.
Tip: Since the handkerchief tree has delicate roots, only planting from potted material is recommended – transplanting is almost impossible.
The most important care measures
Handkerchief trees are not only pretty, but also quite easy to care for. Regular fertilisation is not necessary, but can significantly promote growth. We recommend a slow-release fertiliser such as our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food. The advantage of such a fertiliser is that the mainly organic components are only gradually decomposed by microorganisms and the nutrients thus become available to the plants bit by bit. This way the effect of the fertiliser lasts for a long time and you only have to apply it in spring and once in summer. If your handkerchief tree is very young or freshly planted, it should be watered during dry periods – always keep the soil moist. Pruning Davidia involucrata is not absolutely necessary. If you still want to prune, late autumn is the ideal time.
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Handkerchief tree not blooming: what to do?
If the handkerchief tree fails to flower, this is not necessarily due to your care. As a rule, the flower is formed only after 15-20 years. Before buying, you should find out at what age the tree will be delivered, to estimate the flowering period.
Is the handkerchief tree hardy?
Davidia involucrata is conditionally hardy. Well-established trees easily tolerate temperatures down to – 12 °C. Young and freshly planted handkerchief trees should be well protected from frost for at least the first two winters. To do this, mulch the root area with a layer of leaves and wrap the trunk with jute, for example.
Propagating the dove tree
Propagating the handkerchief tree requires some patience and is not entirely uncomplicated. If you want to use the seeds for this purpose, you should harvest the fruits in the fall from October. Inside there are between 3 and 5 seeds, which must then undergo cold treatment.
- Choose a low-nutrient growing medium such as our Plantura Organic Herb & Seedling Compost. This soil provides the seeds with the optimal amount of nutrients to germinate later.
- Fill a plastic bag with moistened substrate and add the seeds.
- The plastic bag is then closed.
- For the following 4 to 8 weeks, the cultivation remains in the refrigerator and should continue to be kept moist.
- Air them regularly to prevent mould growth.
- Then the seeds are planted 3 to 4 cm deep in the growing medium and placed in a warm and bright place, such as a windowsill.
- At a temperature of 20 to 25 °C, the seeds germinate after about 3 to 4 weeks.
- After the last late frosts in May, the young plant can be placed in the open ground.
- It can take up to 20 years before the first flowers can be admired on the handkerchief tree.
Alternatively, the handkerchief tree can be propagated by cuttings. After flowering, a shoot that is not yet heavily woody is cut off cleanly at a length of 10 to 15 cm. Carefully remove any fruit set and leaves from the lower half of the shoot. The cutting is then also put in potting soil. To create a warm and humid climate, it is advisable to cover the growing with plastic wrap, put the whole thing on a bright and warm windowsill and always keep it moist. Here, too, it is important to ventilate regularly to avoid mould. It can take several weeks to months for the first roots to form. If new leaves appear, then the root formation was successful. Again, wait for the last late frosts before placing the small handkerchief tree outdoors in a protected location. It is best to cultivate it in a container for another year or two and protect it from frost in winter, as young plants are still susceptible to frost.
Are handkerchief tree fruits edible?
No, the ingredients of the handkerchief tree have barely been researched so far, which is why we advise against consuming any parts of the plant. In 2016, Chinese researchers were able to detect, among other things, various alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins that can cause symptoms of poisoning when eaten raw – both in humans and animals.
Another something very special for the garden is the Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) with its delicate leaves and striking flowers.
