August 30, 2005
The Dove Tree, Davidia involucrata
The flowers and bracts of the Dove Tree, Davidia involucrata, have been compared to large white butterflies when stirred by a breeze. This is a specimen tree of the north-temperate flora native to southwest China and was named after the French missionary plant explorer, Pere Armand David. It is also called Ghost Tree or Handkerchief Tree.
We feature this unusual tree, probably beyond the garden proficiency of most of us, in order to introduce you to the Plant Explorers website at www.plantexplorers.com. Its seed store is not available to United States' gardeners as yet, but all of you in Europe can order a variety of interesting seeds from the Van Dusen Seed Collectors' Store. I was charmed by the website and its articles but have no experience with the products sold.