Mountain Silverbell Sinojackia rehderiana
Other plants called Mountain Silverbell:
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-no-JAK-ee-a re-der-ee-AH-na
- Description
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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:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Irregular
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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
- 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
