Pterostyrax

Sunset

Zones 3-10, 14-21

Full, Partial

Moderate

EPAULETTE TREE
Styracaceae
Deciduous, Trees

Once classified with eastern American silver bell (Halesia), towhich they are related, epaulette trees make handsome, interesting garden specimens. White flower clusters appear in late spring or early summer. Slim petals show from behind alternate leaves; plant where you can look up into them—on a bank beside a path, above a bench, in a raised bed. These are choice selections for thewoodland edge or as a focalpoint in a large shrub border.Established trees need littlepruning.

Pterostyrax hispida, photo courtesy of Susan A. Roth

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Pterostyrax hispida

Native to Japan and China. Single- or multitrunked tree to 20–30 ft. (possibly 40 ft.) tall and equally wide. Oval to oblong leaves are light green above, gray-green beneath.Creamy white, lightly fragrantflowers with fringed petal edgesappear in drooping clusters to 9 in. long, 3 in. wide, giving bloom puffs an airy look. Pendent clusters of small, furry gray fruits hang on well into winter, are attractive on bare branches.