Phoebe bournei Seeds | Bourne’s Phoebe

Dark purple-black Bourne's Phoebe seeds in a shallow cup, on a plain background — Bourne’s Phoebe (*Phoebe bournei*): Lauraceae, a rare evergreen timber tree of the forests of south-eastern China.

LATIN NAME: Phoebe bournei

COMMON NAME: Bourne’s Phoebe

Plant Profile

Bourne’s Phoebe is a tall evergreen tree of the laurel family, reaching twenty-five metres with a straight trunk, a dense, rounded crown and glossy, leathery leaves that are silvery beneath. Its small, pale yellow flowers open in spring, and its dark fruits ripen in autumn in a cup that sits on a thickened stalk.

It grows in the evergreen forests of Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei and Jiangxi, where it is one of the nanmu trees whose timber was reserved for imperial building. It is now listed as a protected species in China, and large wild trees are rare.

Science & Biotechnology

The wood is the famous golden-thread nanmu, a timber that shimmers in the light, resists decay and insects, and was used for the columns and coffins of Chinese palaces and temples. The shimmer comes from deposits in the ray cells, and the aromatic oils in the wood are repellent to insects, which is why it was valued for chests and for bookshelves.

The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees, so a population needs both sexes to set fertile seed. Its slow growth, late maturity and the long history of logging have made it a focus of conservation forestry in southern China, where it is now planted in mixed stands.

Uses & Benefits

The timber is used for high-grade furniture, joinery, veneer and carving, and it is one of the most valuable hardwoods of southern China. The tree is also planted for shade and for the restoration of native forest, since its dense crown suppresses weeds and its fruit feeds birds.

In a garden it is a long-term specimen for a large space in a warm, humid climate, grown for its handsome evergreen crown and its place in the Chinese garden tradition. It is slow, and it needs shelter when young, but it becomes a tree of real presence. The wood is also used for veneer, and the tree is planted in mixed forest restoration schemes in Fujian and Jiangxi. Wild trees are now scarce, and seed is usually collected from planted stands.

Growing from Seed

Sow fresh seed in a loose, humus-rich mix at 22 to 26 °C, covering it lightly. Germination is usually good but uneven, and the seed loses viability quickly, so clean and sow it within a few weeks of collecting.

Raise the seedlings under shade cloth in their first summer, keeping the air humid and the compost damp. Plant out in deep, moist, well-drained soil in light shade, and water through the first three summers. Protect the young tree from frost and from competition, and expect slow growth for the first few years. On poor sites, add compost to the planting hole and keep the tree mulched for the first three years.

Our Take

The golden-thread nanmu of Chinese palace building, now rare in the wild and slow in the garden. Worth growing for its timber story and its handsome evergreen crown.

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