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bebe tree Tetradium daniellii

Previously known as:

  • Euodia daniellii
  • Evodia daniellii
Phonetic Spelling
tet-ra-DE-um dan-ee-EL-ee-eye
Description

Named after a British army surgeon William Freeman Daniell, Tetradium daliellii or Bee Bee Tree is a flowering tree that has a rounded umbrella-shaped form.   The common name comes from the seed pods that are produced after flowering, containing small, rounded, pellet-like seeds, resembling the familiar bee-bee.

Plant it in the full sun in moist, fertile, well-drained soils.  It will tolerate a little shade.  It works well as a woodland or lawn tree.  However, when not controlled or monitored, it can become somewhat invasive.  From one individual planted tree, a dense infestation can occur.  In some locations, it has escaped cultivation, forming a dense understory under canopy trees. Some classify this tree as weedy.

A bonus for pollinators, it blooms in late summer when there is not much else blooming.  It will begin blooming when the tree reaches a height of 6-8' tall.  

Oils from the fruits is sometimes used for cooking.  

The leaves may display some color in the fall, but it often loses its leaves while they are still green.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems. 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#shade tree#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#white flowers#fragrant leaves#honey bees#low maintenance#flowering tree#showy fruits#lawn tree#fast growing#deer resistant#dried arrangements#umbrella#deciduous tree#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#heavy shade tolerant#wet soils intolerant#wildlife friendly#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#shade tree#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#white flowers#fragrant leaves#honey bees#low maintenance#flowering tree#showy fruits#lawn tree#fast growing#deer resistant#dried arrangements#umbrella#deciduous tree#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#heavy shade tolerant#wet soils intolerant#wildlife friendly#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Tetradium
    Species:
    daniellii
    Family:
    Rutaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Tibet, China
    Wildlife Value:
    The fruits attract birds. Honey bees are especially attracted to the flowers. Also attracts butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Easy to Grow
    Fragrance
    Shade
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Dimensions:
    Height: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
    Appendage:
    Thorns
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Once the flowers have completed their blooming, seed pods form that will split open when they ripen. The pods will produce small, rounded black seeds, 2 per pod.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    White flowers with hints of pink or yellow grow on 4-6" long, flattened corymbs.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The compound leaves can reach a length of up to 18" long and each have from 7 to 11 leaflets that range from 2-5" long. The upper side of the leaves is dark green, while the underside is a lighter green. The underside is also pubescent, having hairs.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Its smooth gray bark has raised pores that allow a gas exchange between the atmosphere and its internal tissue. Refereed to as having lenticels.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Olive green stems become gray/brown in the second year. They are also lenticel and are covered with a velvet hair.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Patio
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Garden for the Blind
    Pollinator Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Flowering Tree
    Shade Tree
    Specimen
    Street Tree
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Songbirds
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Insect Pests
    Problems:
    Weedy