Two-Winged Silverbell Halesia diptera
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- HAIL-see-ah dip-TER-ah
- Description
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The two-wing silverbell is a flowering tree or shrub native to wet forests and bottomlands in the Southeastern US. It is a member of the storax family (Styraceae). The genus name honors Stephen Hales (1677–1761), an English clergyman, inventor, physiologist and botanist. The species epithet means “two wings” and describes the two prominent wings of the fruits. The only other species in the genus, the Carolina silverbell, has four wings on its fruits.
Although it suffers during drought, it is otherwise adaptive to environmental conditions and easy to grow. It prefers dappled shade or partial shade, well-drained but moist, humus-rich soil.
Two-wing silverbell has a better floral display than the Carolina silverbell (H. carolina), but it blooms one or two weeks later. Two-wing silverbell has low branches and can be grown either as a large, multi-stemmed shrub or trained as a single trunk tree.
The two-wing silverbell is an attractive small tree for rain gardens or shade gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Becomes chlorotic in alkaline soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Magniflora'
Larger flowers; more tolerant of drier conditions.
- 'Magniflora'
- 'Magniflora'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Magniflora'
Larger flowers; more tolerant of drier conditions.
- 'Magniflora'
- 'Magniflora'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Halesia
- Species:
- diptera
- Family:
- Styracaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE. U.S.A. to Texas
- Distribution:
- South Carolina south to Florida, west to Arkansas and southeast Texas.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Pendulous
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- distinct pinnate veins
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- striped when young, pattern with age, exfoliates in thin scales
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
