A few years back, I visited my mom and saw that the Franklin Tree I had given her was blooming. It had been growing there for several years.
That year, the weather was good, so the blossoms lasted late into the season. The tree was a bargain, and I almost bought one for myself at the time.
As someone who loves plants, I felt it belonged in my own yard, too. As a member of Plantaholics Anonymous, I thought it should be in my yard.
Plantaholics cannot escape beautiful plants, especially in bloom. People like me just can’t resist beautiful plants, especially when they’re in bloom.
I first saw a Franklin Tree when Dr. Deeter from the Agricultural Technical Institute at Ohio State University took us on a tour of Secrest Arboretum. I was amazed to see such a beautiful bloom so late in the season.
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen this plant in the arboretum for years now. According to the Secrest guide, it’s no longer there. This tree, now extinct in the wild, might have been lost during the tornado that hit a few years ago.
Many landscapers call Michael Dirr’s Manual of Woody Plants their bible.
In his book, Dirr writes, “If one is so fortunate to procure this species, one should provide it a place of prominence in the garden; an aristocrat because of its interesting history; somewhat akin to a fickle lover and may stay around and tease with its beauty or simply leave … the garden that is; it is best not to become too smitten with this plant.”
The flowers are stunning, and the fall colors of the leaves are like an impressive night gown in that the fall color of leaves will hold you in awe of its beauty.
Dr. Deeter explained that the Franklin Tree, or Franklinia altamaha, is now extinct in the wild. You can still find them for sale at some local nurseries. The Franklin Tree is the only species in its genus within the tea family, Theaceae.
The only places known to have them are Arnold Arboretum, Heritage Plantation, and Longwood Gardens. If you ever visit these gardens, it’s worth looking investment in time searching for the Franklin tree.
I remember seeing the Franklin Tree in the valley at Secrest, near the decks. It struck me as unusual to see it blooming in September. For landscape designers, it’s hard to find plants that bloom in September and October.
I’ve always liked Saucer Magnolias, and having a similar plant that blooms in the fall makes it exciting to look for beautiful flowers all year. I think you’ll agree they’re worth searching for.
Philadelphia botanists John Bartram and his son William first found the Franklin Tree along the Altamaha River near Fort Barrington in Georgia in October 1765. After John died in 1777, William managed to get the tree to bloom in 1781.
Benjamin Franklin, who was friends with John and William, had the tree named in his honor. William never saw the Franklin Tree growing anywhere except its original spot.
In 1803, John Lyon was the last to confirm seeing it in the wild, and after that, it was considered extinct in nature.
This unique tree is believed to be a descendant of the Bartram collection in Philadelphia. Every known Franklin Tree comes from parents grown in that garden.
Today, Franklin trees are found in over 1,000 places around the world, including botanical gardens, private homes, parks, and cemeteries.
Franklin trees can be hard to grow in cities. They like sandy, acidic soil and don’t do well
in heavy clay, too much water, or if their roots are disturbed. They handle drought well.
Adding composted organic matter helps the tree bloom in the fall. For the best flowers, give the tree plenty of sun with a bit of light shade.
Phytophthora cinnamoni is a wilt disease that kills Franklin trees in propagation beds and in containers. Some botanists think a disease like this, which is linked to cotton, may have infected the Franklin Tree.
This type of Phytophthora also lives in the soil. Cotton used to cover most of the Piedmont region, so there was nowhere safe for the Franklin Tree to grow in the south.
Up north, the Franklin Tree doesn’t have pests, but it does need to adjust to the colder weather.
A plant as special as the Franklin Tree deserves a place in all our yards.
I hope you enjoy a lovely walk through your own garden this week. Feel free to email me at ericlarson546@yahoo.com.