Halesia carolina

RHS Plant Profile

Carolina silverbell

Other common names

opossum wood, silverbell tree, snowdrop tree

Synonyms

Halesia tetraptera
Halesia parviflora
Halesia tetraptera var. tetraptera

Shrubs Trees

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A deciduous tree or shrub suitable for a woodland garden or shrub border. Pendent clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers in spring, followed by green, four-winged fruits in autumn. Mid-green ovate leaves turn yellow in autumn.

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing or North–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Styracaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Halesia are deciduous shrubs or small trees with simple, ovate leaves and pendent, bell-shaped white flowers followed by distinctive, winged fruits
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: SE USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in lime-free, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade; suitable for woodlands

Propagation

Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility