Woody > Halesia > Halesia tetraptera > Halesia tetraptera var. monticola
Halesia tetraptera
var. monticola
Silverbell, Snowdrop tree, Mountain silver bell
Origin: A North American native plant to the mid and southern states.
Mike's
Opinion
"
This tree is difficult to find in Ontario garden centres but it is well worth the efforts if it can be found. Halesia monticola is a beautiful tree that produces attractive white, bell-like flowers that hang down in profusion from the branches. It can be a focal point or a backdrop in the garden however it must be planted in a sheltered location with protection from winter winds.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Styracaceae |
| Genus |
| Halesia |
| Species |
| tetraptera |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Variety |
| monticola |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5–9a |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 5 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| - 23-(- 26) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| - 20-(-30) |
| Height |
| 6–12 m |
| Spread |
| 6–10 m |
Photographs
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| This tree is rounded and multi stemmed that doesn’t need to be pruned on a regular basis. It does prefer free draining, slightly acidic soil. It can be planted with an evergreen background or planted where it can be closely observed. |
| Landscape |
| Halesia monticola can be used as a specimen tree, woodland gardens, borders and backdrop plantings. It can also be used as a median or boulevard tree although it has no proven urban tolerance. |
| Cultivation |
| Halesia monticola prefers full sun to partial shade. The soil for this tree should be neutral to acidic and well drained. |
| Shape |
| Halesia monticola has a rounded to pyramidal form. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Beautiful white bell shaped flowers appear in the spring to early summer and has unique bark. The Halesia monticola also turns to a yellow in the autumn. |
| Pests |
| This tree isn’t known to have many problems with pest’s and diseases although there may be occasional problems with leaf spot, wood decay and scale. |
| Habitat |
| It is seen in the smoky mountains of South Eastern United States. Which include Tennessee and North Carolina, to Georgia. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The colour of the bark is grey to brown and black. It is ridged and is marked with a “snakeskin” pattern. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| It features rose-pink buds that open 2.5 cm long pale pink blooms which fade to white. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves are about 20 cm long and a light green in colour. When they are young, they are covered in fine soft hairs but once they have aged they become hairless. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate or elliptic and have a pointed apex and a rounded base. They turn to a pale yellow in Autumn. |
| Flower Description |
| The flowers are white and bloom in spring or early summer, before or as, the leaves emerge. They are 2.5 cm long and have a bell shape. |
| Colour Description |
| The leaves turn from a pale green to a pale yellow in the Autumn and the flowers turn into a beautiful white in the spring. |
| Texture Description |
| The foliage is course, and the bark is ridged. |
| Propagation |
| Root cuttings taken in spring, placed vertically in flats of well drained potting mix with the large end pointing up placed in frames over bottom heat. Spring sown seed provides sporadic germination, seedlings should be grown on for several years in the nursery prior to planting out. |
References
Tree & Shrub Gardening for Ontario. Alison Beck, Kathy Renwald. Canda: Lone Pine Publishing. 2001. Print
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