Blue Sandalwood, Pteroceltis tatarinowii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ter-oh-SEL-tiss
- Description
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Blue Sandlewood is a hardy, flowering, multi-stemmed deciduous tree in the hops family native to the mountainous regions of China and found on limestone, river and stream banks at elevations of more than 300 feet. At maturity, the tree can reach a height of 30 to 45 feet tall, with some reaching 60 feet. It is typically grown as an ornamental, but is also harvested in China to make Xuan paper. The insignificant green flowers appear in spring and fall leaf color is yellow. The gray-brown bark exfoliates in dramatic fashion in patches and ribbons.
This tree prefers moist, well-drained loamy soil in full sun, but is tolerant of most soil types including gravely and sandy ones. It is drought tolerant when established. It can be used as a shade tree.
The slender shoots and leaves of an immature tree are clothed with small appressed hairs which soon fall away.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pteroceltis
- Species:
- tatarinowii
- Family:
- Cannabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Valued as a good quality timber tree. The bark fiber is used to make Xuan paper, a soft and fine-textured paper thought suitable for conveying artistic expression.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 45 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/2 to 3/4 inch winged, yellowish green to yellowish brown nut appears from August to October. The nut is borne on a slender stalk about 1/2 inch long.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant green flowers appear from March through May. The flowers are unisexual, the males in stalkless clusters, the females solitary in the leaf-axils.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Two to four inch, broadly ovate to oblong leaves with serrated margins. Medium to dark green leaves. Fall color is yellow. Four to six secondary veins on each side of midvein. The upper surface is harsh to the touch, with innumerable minute warts; the lower surface has tufts of down.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Dramatic grayish white to dark gray exfoliating bark in ribbons covers the mature tree.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Woody, brown stems with white lenticels. Winter buds ovoid.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
