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Jacktree Sinojackia rehderiana

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Jacktree:

Phonetic Spelling
sy-no-JAK-ee-a re-der-ee-AH-na
Description

The words sino, meaning Chinese and 'jackia', referring to the Arnold Arboretum's John George Jack (1861-1949) along with honors to Alfred Rehder (1863-1949), a staff member of the Arnold Arboretum, Sinojackia rehderiana was developed.   

Hanging like a pendant, small white flowers appear in the springtime on cymes each having 3 to 5 flowers.  

Once established, it has some drought and heat tolerant. It blooms in late spring, followed by interesting-looking woody fruit. Afternoon shade should be provided in locations with hot summers.  

Its native habitat includes thick forest lands.  It prefers soil will a high organic content, but will tolerate a wide variety of soils as long as an acid pH and regular watering are provided.  Once established, with its roots penetrating the surrounding soils, it will tolerate dry soil and/or drought. Watering can then be reduced.  It is also heat tolerant, but afternoon shade is essential.

Quick ID

  • White, pendulous cymes of bell-like flowers in late spring
  • The fruit is a woody cylindrical drupe with long 'beak'
  • Flowers are 2.5-3 cm diameter.; 5-6 petals, fused at base
  • Deciduous shrub/small tree with shiny green leaves

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease issues.  This plant can have an unkept appearance.

It is not typically common in cultivation.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#deciduous shrub#showy leaves#winter interest#fall interest#flowering tree#disease resistant#large shrub#deer resistant#frost tolerant#spring interest#fantz#deciduous tree#compact habit#dry soils tolerant#bee friendly#tropical#wet soils intolerant#broadleaf#fall color#insect resistant#trees#long lived
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#small tree#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#deciduous shrub#showy leaves#winter interest#fall interest#flowering tree#disease resistant#large shrub#deer resistant#frost tolerant#spring interest#fantz#deciduous tree#compact habit#dry soils tolerant#bee friendly#tropical#wet soils intolerant#broadleaf#fall color#insect resistant#trees#long lived
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Sinojackia
    Species:
    rehderiana
    Family:
    Styracaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used as a landscape plant.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern China
    Wildlife Value:
    Squirrels eat the seeds, while bees are attracted to the flowers.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Screening
    Shade
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Irregular
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are oblong cylindrical woody drupe with a long, acuminate apex, ca 2 cm. They remain on the tree through the winter months.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The inflorescence is pendulous cymes on short leafy lateral shoots, axillary. Flowers are white, campanulate, nodding, ca 2.5 cm diameter; petals (5-6) elliptic-oblong, fused at base; calyx turbinate with 5-7 lobes.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Obovate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate, simple elliptic to elliptic obovate, acuminate, rotund, serrulate to entire, shiny dark green and glabrous above, pubescent on veins below, 4-12 cm long; buds naked, pubescent, leafy, brown.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are slender, brown, pubescent, developing vertical fissures and becoming stringy; pith green, solid.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Flowering Tree
    Foundation Planting
    Shade Tree
    Specimen
    Street Tree
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Small Mammals
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat
    Insect Pests