Franklin Tree
Franklinia alatamaha (Gordonia alatamaha) (THEACEAE)
Planting and Growing Franklin Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow Franklin trees in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and fruit of Franklin trees
- Growing conditions for Franklin tree
- When to plant Franklin tree
- How to plant Franklin tree
- How to prune Franklin tree
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of Franklin tree
- Landscape uses of Franklin tree
- Pest and disease control for Franklin tree
Growing Franklin Trees
Several cultivars of a single-species genus of medium-growing, upright, round-crowned, deciduous shrubby trees, 10–30 ft. (3–9 m) tall and sometimes as wide, single or multitrunked, with shiny, green, narrow, oval, pointed, veined leaves, to 6 in. (15 cm) long, turning orange, purple, red in autumn, and gray, ridged bark.
Franklin trees are close relatives of both Stewartia spp. and Camellia spp. Early American botanist William Bartram conferred its scientific name in honor of Benjamin Franklin, a close acquaintance.
Franklin Tree Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Showy, fleshy, cream, white, camellia-like, fragrant flowers, to 3 in. (75 mm) wide, with gold, clustered stamens, in summer–autumn, form dry, woody, capsulelike fruit the following spring.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 5–9. Semi-hardy. Best in humid-summer climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained humus. Fertility: Rich. 5.0–6.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full to filtered sun. Space 8–12 ft. (2.4–3.7 m) apart. Avoid planting near cotton.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Fertilize quarterly. Mulch. Prune to promote treelike growth. Propagate by cuttings, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, backgrounds, borders, paths in cottage, formal, Japanese-themed, meadow, turfgrass gardens. Pest resistant. Chlorosis, fungal disease susceptible.