Davidia involucrata |
Native Region: Central China
Zone Range: 5-9
Preferred Climate: Full to semi sun; well draining deep soil.
Harvest Date: Tuesday 08 January, 2013
Seed count: 5-7
Description:
Beautiful flowering shade tree. Its spreading branches are covered with white silk hankerchief like flowers that dance in a breeze somewhat resembling a flock of doves fanning their wings. Plan accordingly when seating your Davidia as it WILL become a focal point. Known to start blooming at 10 years. Bright yellow Autumn colour. Cinnamon coloured bark flakes off in irregular 'puzzle piece' patches Can grow 13 metres tall with equal spread.
Notes:
Each nut can have up to 10 individual seed chambers. Possible germination inhibition of any sibling embryos from the first 'born' so make sure to remove nut from sproutling (or vise versa) so the remaining can emerge and not compete for growing space. Yes, you have to do this each time a seedling slips from its chamber. Very rewarding. Plan your garden parties to coenside with the Davidia flowering in late May.
Cultivation:
Cleaned seed. When you receive the seeds, place them in a resealable baggie of moistened peat warm stratify 120 days followed by 90 days of cold stratificaiton. Brief periods of warm followed by cold also initiate germination, which can be rapid. Sow seeds 3 cm deep in a sowing layer of equal parts coarse sand, non oyster shell bird grit (stone), perlite and peat. May take 18 months to germinate or more or less! I've had seed germinate in the warm stratification process, so check often and stir seed in the moist peat. This is my third year growing this species from seed, with great success in the previous.
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