Davidia involucrata Seeds | Dove Tree Handkerchief Tree
LATIN NAME: Davidia involucrata
COMMON NAME: Dove Tree, Handkerchief Tree, Ghost Tree
Plant Profile
Among the ornamental and useful plants raised from seed, Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata) stands out as a medium-sized, deciduous tree in the dogwood family, native to warm woodlands of the east. Established plants reach around Twenty metres. For the gardener, the sum of these traits is a plant that is easy to live with.
Science & Biotechnology
Within the dogwood family, Davidia involucrata is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. Dove tree has a real and distinguished place in research. A long cultivation history means growers know what to expect from it.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Dove Tree for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Dove tree is a medium-sized, deciduous tree of warm woodlands, bearing large, white, handkerchief-like bracts which hang among leaves in late spring. Its flower heads feed insects of warm woodlands, and its spreading, layered habit gives a fine presence in garden and park, while its large, heart-shaped leaves give a good shade in the summer. To raise dove tree, sow seeds in pots of moist, open soil in a cool, shaded place, keep them gently watered, and grow little trees on in the light. Getting it going is easy; keeping it going is easier still.
A tree like this repays patience for decades: it cools and shelters its surroundings, hosts birds and insects, and stores carbon in timber that outlives its planter.
Growing from Seed
Dove Tree grows readily from seed. Fill a pot with a light seed compost, sow evenly on the surface, cover thinly and stand it somewhere warm, bright and evenly moist. A cool, moist period before sowing helps the seeds wake evenly — a few weeks in damp medium in the refrigerator is the usual approach. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
Dove Tree, Handkerchief Tree, Ghost Tree earns its space through character rather than fuss. As a medium-sized, deciduous tree, it settles into a routine quickly once established. A few weeks of cold, moist stratification before sowing mirrors its natural cycle.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Dove Tree often pair it with these related subjects: