Davidia

( duh - VID - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Dove Tree, Handkerchief Tree, or Ghost Tree, this deciduous tree is native to China and needs full sun to partial shade and regular water. Spring blooms are red, surrounded by two large white bracts that dangle from branches, giving the look of doves or handkerchiefs. They commonly take about 10 years to come to bloom, and reaches 35-65 feet tall and 15-40 feet wide. Both in and out of leaf, the tree has a beautiful look to it. Best when planted by itself, it catches the eye when planted in front of green conifers, where its bracts and leaf color really pop. Dove Trees are the only species in their genus, which is in the plant family Nyssaceae, and are best in USDA hardiness zones 6-8 or Sunset growing zones 4-9 and 14-21. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Caring for Davidia

Plant Davidia trees in a space in the landscape that receives full sun to partial shade; ideally, they appreciate between 4 and 6 hours of sun each day for the best blooms. It is best to transplant these trees in spring or fall to minimize stress. The root systems of Davidia trees can be sensitive, and care must be taken during planting to protect them so that the tree is not affected by transplant shock. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.0 and 7.4 (acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention.

Newly planted trees should be watered on a regular basis, and more mature trees prefer consistently moist soil, as well, especially during the drier months of the year. Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These trees do not need much in the way of pruning, and do not rebound well from heavy prunings. In late winter or early springtime, simply remove any dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing branches. Left to their own devices, these trees take a beautiful shape.

Propagation

Davidia trees can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Davidia by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch semi-hardwood portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Davidia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. In fall, pick fruits from the trees or collect them from the ground underneath. Place them in the paper bag and bring them indoors. Cut them open to reveal the seeds inside; there are between 3 and 6 seeds per fruit. Rinse seeds to remove all flesh from them, then place the seeds in a mixture of compost and sand inside of a sealable container or plastic bag. Keep them in this mixture, ensuring that it stays moist, for between 12 and 20 weeks' time. Once this period has passed, remove seeds and set them out so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes a few weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home. Keep in mind that Davidia trees grown from seed do not typically flower for up to 10 years. Once they are mature, they will begin to produce beautiful blooms.

Davidia fruits are produced in summer and fall.

Davidia involucrata seeds.

Problems and Pests

Davidia trees typically are quite resistant to pests and diseases, though they can have issues from time to time with the following commonly encountered garden pests: