Davidia involucrata "Dove tree" "Pocket hankerchiefs"

Hi All

I have had this for nearly 8 years , was a about a meter tall when I bought it, its about 4 meters high now, and I just noticed its produced for the 1st time its "pocket hankerchiefs"

Not the best photo's but I will take some more as they develop , to be honest I thought it would of taken longer to flower (white bracts) as all the books say 15 to 20 years so I must have the growing conditions right !!!

 

Great choice there Spruce It's a beautiful tree

 

A lovely tree Spruce ; certainly an eye catcher. Well done for getting it to produce when still in its youth,
Jenny

 

I had to look this up "Tulip Tree" I did buy my brother one as a moving in present and a deer ate it !!! from top to bottom.

My mum has a couple of Tulip trees in her village that are over 100 years old look amazing in full flower , they are huge trees which I did not expect .

I cant believe I had missed them (bracts) for days but its the round part in the middle I thought whats that , more photos to follow, every branch has one or two on, I wonder if it can set seeds ? IF ANY ONES KNOWS ?

thanks

Spruce

 

Latest photos today they have gone so much bigger and whiter

 

Well done Spruce,

 

thanks Pete , it looks amazing I never thought it would produce the bracts

 

Marvelous Spruce

 

Interesting and well done, Spruce.

I just this week planted some 'African Tulip Trees' the Spathodea campanulata so I am hoping I shall have some luck as apparently in the correct environment they can grow to 2 meters the first year and bloom within three years.

 

What a show stopper Spruce... and , is that a bee in the 2nd picture?
Jenny

 

just had a nose I think I see it ?

thanks Jen

Spruce

 

Hi All,

*Update* Dove tree is setting seed
I asked the RHS what to do with them here's the reply ;

Seeds of Davidia may on occasion be infertile, so several seeds should be sown to ensure successful germination. Davidia often produces up to five seedlings from a single seed, the young plants emerging from different points as the shell disintegrates.

Allow the fruits to hang on the tree until October to ensure they are fully ripened. After gathering, scrape away the soft husk around the hard, ridged, seed case. Sow in pots or half pots using John Innes seed compost, covering to a depth of about 2.5cm (1in) and surfacing with a 1cm (½in) layer of sharp grit.

After sowing, place the containers outdoors in a cool, moist situation out of direct sun, (e.g. against a north-facing wall or fence) Plunge pots to the rims in a bed of sharp sand, grit or similar free-draining material to reduce the likelihood of drying out. If necessary, protect from rodents by covering the containers with fine-mesh wire netting. Leave pots outdoors exposed to winter conditions for two winters.

Germination in the first spring after sowing is unlikely as the seeds show epicotyl dormancy. This means that seeds sown in the autumn produce a root in the first spring, and then a period of cold is required (usually the second winter) before the shoot will emerge from the seed. At the end of the second February after sowing, transfer the pots to a warm greenhouse with a temperature of around 12-15oC (55-60oF) to encourage shoot emergence. Alternatively move them to a sunnier and warmer situation to encourage the final stages of germination.

Germination cannot begin until the hard seed coat has decomposed sufficiently to allow moisture penetration, a very slow process in cold conditions. To achieve more rapid germination, after cleaning the seeds they can be given a period of five months warm stratification, followed by three months cold stratification. To do so, after cleaning mix the seeds with four times their volume moist sand or peat, place in labelled dated polythene bags and keep in a temperature of 20-30oC (68-86oF) for five months. Then move to a temperature of 1-5oC (34-41oF) for a further three months. The contents of the bags can then be spread over the prepared seed trays or beds before covering the seeds to 2-3 times their depth in the seed sowing medium.

 

Looks like you are going to be a bit busy come october then eh.