The Dove Tree
Davidia involucrata is an outstanding ornamental tree commonly called the Handerchief Tree, Dove Tree or Ghost Tree.
Originally from China, has been in cultivation since the mid 1800s when the French explorer, missionary and botanist, Father David, first brought back seeds. The tree gets its botanical name from him.
The main attraction are the amazing flower bracts, two on each actual flower. The flower itself is small and redish in colour, the bracts are large and white.
How to Grow Davidia involucrata – Basic Care
Best grown in cool to temperate climates, Davidia involucrata is grown in the UK, Europe and in the milder areas of the USA, it also grows well in southern Australia with excellent specimens found in the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria, Tasmania and Blue Mountains in NSAW. If is featured in parks and gardens and makes an excellent deciduous shade tree.
Best grown in a humus rich, well drained moisture retentive soil. It will grow in full sun to part shade, however best not exposed to hot drying winds.
Flowering time is in late spring, depending a little on the climate. The flowers fade and seed pods or fruit are formed, these will fall to the ground and will take around two years to germinate. The fruit are not edible.
Newly planted specimens should be fertilised with a balanced slow released type fertiliser in spring.
Pruning
This is not a tree that requires pruning as it naturally forms an attractive shape. Over time it will reach around 10 metres (30Ft) in height. It will form a wide spreading crown given appropriate space.
How to propagate the Dove Tree
The right time to take cuttings from a Dove tree (Davidia involucrata) is after flowering in summer when the new growth has hardened a littl.
These semi hardened cuttings should be around 8 inches long with e cur made just below the leaf node.
- Use a propagation mix of 50% or similar and 50% perlite.
- A rooting hormone liquid or powder should be used to increase success rate.
- Cuttings beed to be mist sprayed and kept out of direct sun.
- Roots should form before the next winter.
- Leave the cuttings in individual pots over winter.
- New growth should appear in spring.
- Cuttings should be watered and fertilised over the next season.
- After this the new Dove Tree plants should be potted up into a normal potting mix.
- Grow on for 2 years before planting out.
It should be noted that plants grown from seed are usually stronger and more vigorous.
Seeds need a cold stratification to germinate and often will take 2 years to do so.
Davidia involucrata Sonoma, which flowers from a much earlier age can only be successfully propagated vegetatively (cuttings or Ariel layering)
Varieties
This is a tree that is slow to get to flowering size and besides the species, two other forms are identified, Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana and Davidia involucrata Sonoma.
Sonoma is a variety which flowers at a much earlier age than the others and is the most sought after type for most gardens.
Summary Information
- Botanical Name – Davidia involucrata
- Common Names – Dove tree, Handkerchief Tree, Ghost Tree.
- Country of Origin – China
- Climate Zones – Temperate to cool
- Position – Full sun to part shade
- Soil – Well drained humus rich.
- Height – Generally 10 metres.
- Spread – Will form a crown of 5 metres.
- Growth Rate – Medium
- Foliage – Green.
- Flowers – White flower bracts around reddish flowers
- Flowering Time – Spring.
- Frost tolerant – No
- Drought tolerant – No
* Not to be confused with Maniltoa browneoides also known as the “Handkerchief tree”, this is an tropical evergreen species from New Guinea.