In 1777, this exquisite fall-flowering tree was brought from the banks of the Alatamaha River in Georgia to John Bartram's garden in Philadelphia. Recognizing its extraordinary beauty and value, Bartram named it in honor of his lifelong friend, Benjamin Franklin. The original grove of Franklinia trees was again visited in 1790. However, from that day to this, no one has seen these trees growing in the wild, although many expeditions have searched the banks of the Alatamaha. Each twig develops at its tip a cluster of buds of graduated size like overgrown greenish
pearls.
Then the guard petals fold back to reveal 4 other frilled, satin-white petals and 3-inch chalice. This chalice holds a mass of orange-gold stamens and releases a delicate, balmy fragrance. Flowers bloom in constant but growth rate is slow especially following transplanting. Adaptable to a wide range of soil pH. Tolerant of air pollution.
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