Genus Franklinia

Franklinia alatamaha Photo/Illustration: Michael Dirr

frank-LIN-ee-ah

One species, F. alatamaha, makes up this genus. It is an upright, deciduous tree with glossy, oblong leaves that turn red in autumn. Three-inch, cup-shaped, fragrant white flowers with yellow stamens bloom from late spring to early fall. This tree is wonderful as a specimen or planted in an open woodland.
Noteworthy characteristics: Native to Georgia, U.S. Thought to be extinct in the wild. Camellia-like flowers and colorful autumn foliage.
Care: Grow in full sun in moist but well-drained, acidic to neutral soil that is rich in organic matter. Prune in late winter or early spring by removing wayward shoots.
Propagation: As soon as the seed is ripe, sow at 50-64°F, or use bottom heat to root softwood cuttings in summer.
Problems: Flowers may be eaten by Japanese beetles.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Franklinia

Franklinia alatamaha
(Franklin tree) (1 user review)

Hardiness Zones:

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Discovered in the wild along Georgia's Altamaha River in 1765 by botanists John and William Bartram, this beautiful landscape tree is considered extinct in the wild. The Bartrams named the plant in honor of their friend Benjamin Franklin. All Franklinias today are descended from those propagated by the Bartrams in their Philadelphia garden. It is a deciduous, understory tree with an upright habit. It can be grown as a single-trunked tree or a multi-stemmed shrub. The fragrant white flowers have bushy yellow stamens and the leaves are dark green and glossy, turning orange, red, and purple in the fall. It blooms in late summer and early autumn, when few other trees are in flower. The fruit that follows is woody and spherical. Franklin tree makes a great addition to an open area of a woodland garden.

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