Franklin tree rewards

I have a weakness for exquisite trees like the Franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha). I probably would have tried to grow it for its history alone, but after seeing it bloom, I knew I would always need one in my yard.

Colonial botanists John and William Bartram discovered a small grove of this species growing by the banks of the Altamaha River in what is now Georgia in 1765. On a later trip, William collected seeds, from which they grew specimens in their Philadelphia garden, naming the tree in honor of Benjamin Franklin.

It was lucky for me and other lovers of exquisite trees that the Bartrams decided to propagate Franklinia, because it was never seen in the wild after 1803. All trees living today come from specimens grown by the Bartrams.

Mine is just beginning to bloom, and if I'm lucky, it will bloom long enough for the leaves to turn the breathtaking scarlet that adds to the appeal of this tree. The autumn leaves are lovely in their own right, but when they surround a pure white, 3-inch flower with a light, sweet fragrance that invites deep inhalation, the effect is every gardener's dream.

This tree can be tricky to keep happy. It needs rich, moist, well-drained soil, protection from strong winds and summer heat, and mulch to keep its roots cool. But if you can give it what it needs, your reward will be exceptional flowers on an exquisite tree -- in August!