Botanical Name:

Halesia carolina (formerly Halesia tetraptera)

Common Name:

Carolina silverbell or mountain silverbell

Family Name:

Styracaceae – storax family

General Description:

Halesia carolina is native to southeastern United States where it grows as a small understory tree in rich organic soils usually near streams. The clusters of bell-shaped flowers and subtle ornamental bark features add a delicate beauty to the landscape. Carolina silverbell is intolerant of clay soils and, in the Chicago area, may suffer occasional twig damage in severe winters. Regardless, its beauty outweighs the potential problems, and it should be a more frequently used plant.

Zone:

5

Resources Consulted:

Dirr, Michael A. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Champaign: Stipes, 2009. Print.

"The PLANTS Database." USDA, NRCS. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA, 2014. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

"Silverbell." Trees & Plants. Morton Arboretum, 2014. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

Swink, Floyd, and Gerould Wilhelm. Plants of the Chicago Region. Indianapolis: Indiana Academy of Science, 1994. Print.

Creator:

Julia Fitzpatrick-Cooper, Professor, College of DuPage

Creation Date:

2014

Keywords/Tags:

Halesia carolina, Halesia tetraptera, Carolina silverbell, tree, deciduous

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