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Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana is part of the Nyssaceae family of plants. They also call it de Vilmorin Handkerchief Tree, Dove Tree ‘vilmoriniana‘. It is a deciduous tree that grows to about 12m or 38ft. It is native to China.
Henri Baillon in 1871 named the genus Davidia after Father Armand David (1826-1900), a French missionary who lived in China. He first noted the tree in 1869.
The foliage starts as reddish in color then turns bright green and glabrous (hairless) on the back. The leaf edges are serrated and broadly ovate. Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana flowers in spring. The flowers are small but they are surrounded by larger creamy-white ovate bracts. After flowers, it produces an elliptic greenish-brown fruit, usually in autumn.
How to grow Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana:
Grow Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana in the sun or partial shade. Shelter it from wind and cold. It starts flowering when it matures. Plant it in organically rich, moist but well-drained soil. Propagate by seed or hardwood cuttings. Davidia involucrata var. vilmoriniana is generally pest-free and disease-free. It is a moderately fast-growing tree. It attracts bees and butterflies.
Also read Davidia involucrata.
