Fall Plant Sale 2019: Japanese Silver Tree

By Katherine Hale

Odds are good that many people have never seen anything quite like neolitsea. A smooth-barked evergreen with aromatic leaves and cascades of tiny fall-blooming flowers, neolitsea is worth seeking out. And we’ll have it among many tree options at our Fall Plant Sale.

Native to beech-laurel mountainous slopes of China and southern Japan, neolitsea (Neolitsea sericea) is practically unknown in American gardens, but it deserves to be more widely grown. It’s also known as the Japanese silver tree for the color of newly emerged leaflets, which are downy at first before transitioning to reddish-pink and then to a mature green.

The trees are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plantings. Mixed-gendered plantings will result in holly-like red berries on female trees for additional winter interest.

Neolitsea flourish in the warmth and humidity of southern climates, particularly when planted in a sheltered location to protect it from cold snaps. Like rhododendrons, neolitsea need acidic soil to thrive, and the soil should be well-drained if possible.  Trees grow faster in full sun if given adequate water, but they will tolerate light or dappled shade, with an even, rounded shape that will need little in the way of pruning.

If you’re in the market for something new and different—something you may never have seen anywhere else— give neolitsea a try. For those willing to branch out and explore the possibilities, it’s a winner.

Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

FALL PLANT SALE DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019
Time: 8 a.m.-noon
Member benefits: Duke Gardens members get 10% off all purchases, plus access to the members-only previews sale and dinner from 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 27, and a full list of plants in advance, plus staff recommendations. Join online or on site.
Parking: Free.
Pets not permitted. Please see Duke Gardens' pets policy here.
Wagons + boxes: Our supply is limited; please bring your own if possible, and you'll have more time to spend gathering beautiful plants.
Your support helps Duke Gardens to provide summer internships to aspiring horticulturists from across the nation.
Please see our event page for more information, and we'd love for you to spread the word by sharing the event on Facebook and inviting your friends.
Thank you!