x Gordlinia grandiflora 'Sweet Tea'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- gord-LIN-ee-uh gran-dih-FLOR-uh
- Description
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As if ×Gordlinia grandiflora (a rare intergeneric hybrid between Franklinia and Gordonia) wasn’t unusual enough, ‘Sweet Tea’ is a polyploidy form with extra sets of chromosomes. Why ‘Sweet Tea’? Well, it’s a member of the tea family, the flowers have a light sweet fragrance, and it comes from the South where sweet tea runs in our veins. Okay, it’s not the toughest tree on the planet, so give it a good site with well-drained soil and even moisture. More resistant to Phytophthora but it’s still a bit finicky.
Best grown in full sun or a little afternoon shade as long as it’s not too dry. It deserves a prominent location in the landscape as a specimen planting. Roots readily from stem cuttings. Mature height is estimated to be 20-30 feet. Not patented or trademarked.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Wilt and root rot. Can be a challenging tree to grow.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- x Gordlinia
- Species:
- grandiflora
- Family:
- Theaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- 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)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 5" wide white showy flowers with 5 petals and yellow centers of stamens that resemble camellia blooms. Late summer blooms July-September are valued.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The 4-8 inch long narrow oval leaves have serrated margins and are dark green on the upper surface and pale green below. The fall color is red-yellow. They are semi-evergreen
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
