Halesia tetraptera
Common name: Carolina Silverbell
A wonderful spring bloomer with white, bell-shaped blossoms that hang lightly from the stems in bunches. In Illinois, I know of only a few sites that this plant can be found growing wild, but it seems to be very adaptable much further north in protected areas. Moist soils with a good amount of organic matter are needed for best growth. However, it is tolerant of most garden conditions, except salt. I’ve heard that is is a moderate to fast grower, but if that’s the case I’ll eat one. For us, it seems to be more on the fast side of slow. If the growth rate bothers you, keep in mind that the pay-off is worth the wait because the flowers and bark are striking.
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Plant Details
Plant type
Trees
Soil type
Moist Mesic
Light exposure
Partial Sun / Part Shade
Bloom period
Spring
Urban environment
Requires Protected Site
Habitat
Woodlands
Growth form
Shrubby/Clump, Single trunk
Growth rate
Slow
Flower color
White
Fall color
Yellow
Size
- Mature height
- 15 Feet
- Mature width
- 10 Feet
- Max height
- 30 Feet
- Max width
- 25 Feet
Additional information
Butterfly host plant