Franklinia Tree

The father and son explorers discovered a small grove of this unknown tree along the Altamaha River in Georgia in 1765. On a later trip, William gathered seeds to propagate at their Philadelphia garden. They named the tree Franklinia alatamaha in honor of John Bartram's great friend, Benjamin Franklin.

The tree was never seen in the wild after 1803, but fortunately, Franklinias still exist thanks to the Bartrams. All Franklinias today are descended from those propagated and distributed by the Bartrams, who are credited with saving it from extinction.

The Franklinia tree is gaining an increased popularity among gardeners enticed by its delicate beauty, marvelous story of survival.

Scientific Name(s): Franklinia alatamaha

Common Name(s): Franklinia, Ben Franklin Tree, Franklin Tree

Plant Type: Small deciduous tree

Height: 15 to 20 feet

Cultivation Zones: 5 - 8

Cultivation Give Franklinia humus-rich acid soil, and water it during dry spells, especially when young. Good drainage is essential, so consider putting it on an elevated spot or artificial mound. It blooms most profusely in full sun, but in hot dry climates partial or dappled shade might give the best overall results.

Sometimes this plant will try to grow as a shrub, but it can usually be trained into tree form. Franklinia is easy to grow from seed, and such a plant will often reach blooming size by the sixth year.

Note: This plant may not do well in the South.