About
This deciduous tree to 15m tall with oblong to elliptic, bristle-toothed leaves to 15cm long covered with a grey down on the undersides and sometimes tinted with yellow and bronze in autumn. White, scented flowers in panicles to 15cm long are borne in late spring and early summer and followed by bristly, ribbed fruits to 2.5cm long.
About the genus
Pterostyrax can be deciduous trees or large shrubs, with peeling bark, simple leaves and drooping panicles of small, 5-lobed, bell-shaped flowers held beneath the branches, and followed by small ribbed fruits.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeTrees, Shrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesSpecimen planting, large borders, parkland settings.
Native toChina
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, moist but well-drained, acid or neutral soil, sheltered from cold winds
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by seed or by semi-hardwood cuttings
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free