| General Description | A broadly pyramidal tree of medium size with large, attractive foliage and a stunning array of flowers when in bloom. Fruit is fairly unattractive; handsome bark provides winter interest. It is a rather tender plant but hardens somewhat with age. |
| ID Characteristic | Can be identified by unique flowers in late spring. When not in bloom, identifying characteristics would a combination of the distinct elliptical leaf shape, slender red petiole, and the vertical habit of the branches. |
| Shape | Broadly pyramidal form, more so in a young plant, with gracefully ascending branches. |
| Propagation | Whole fruit can be sown, or use fresh seed (dried seed has lower germination rate), germination will occur after two winters as seeds are doubly-dormant. Can also be propagated by taking cuttings from hardwood or half-ripened wood. Trees grown from seed may take up to 20 years to flower. |
| Cultivation | Requires deep, rich soil, moist but well drained. Prefers a moderately low pH; responds well to added peat moss. Not drought tolerant and needs to be kept watered during extended dry periods. Will branch at low levels, requiring corrective pruning to encourage a strong central leader. Prefers partial shade but will perform nicely in full sun as well if well watered; should be given a location sheltered from winds. Quite a tender tree when young, but usually hardens off with age. |
| Pests | Not seriously affected by pests or diseases |
| Notable Specimens | Two flowering specimens at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England. |
| Habitat | Found naturally in the damp, mountain woodlands of southwestern China. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Orange-brown in colour and gets scaly with age; some winter interest. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Buds are large, solitary, and lateral buds develop into short spurs. Covered in 6 or so blunt, pale-edged scales. They are smooth and lustrous, and reddish brown in colour. |
| Leaf Description | Simple leaves are alternately arranged on the stem, with slender red petioles and no stipules. Leaves are cordate-ovate, acuminate, coarsely serrated with prominent veins. Glabrous above and heavily pubescent beneath. 5-13.5 cm long, 10 cm wide. |
| Flower Description | Subglobose head 2 cm across on a 7.5 cm peduncle; andromonoecious. Instead of petals; two opposing, cream-white bracts. The lower bract is 18.5 cm by 10 cm, and upper bract is 10 cm by 5 cm. Often flowers in alternate years. |
| Fruit Description | Fruit is a solitary drupe or stone fruit of an ovoid shape, 3.5 cm long, green turning to a russet brown speckled with red. The ridged endocarp contains 3 to 5 seeds and matures in the autumn. |
| Colour Description | Leaves are bright green in summer with practically no autumn colour. They often drop green or turn a brown colour, and will fall almost all at once in the autumn. |
| Texture Description | Medium texture. |
