Halesia (Silverbell, Snowdrop Tree) is a genus comprising about 4-5 species of deciduous tree or shrub in the family Styracaceae, native to eastern Asia, southeast China and eastern North America. It was named after Stephen Hales.
Halesia species grow 5-20 m tall. The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate, 5-16 cm long and 3-8 cm broad. The flowers are pendulous, bell-shaped, white or pale pink, produced in open clusters of 2-6 together. Each flower is 1-3 cm long, borne in spring. The fruit is a distinctive, oblong dry drupe, 2-4 cm long. All species except H. diptera have four narrow longitudinal ribs or wings; H. diptera is the most distinctive of the group with only two ribs.
Halesia likes sun or partial shade, fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained neutral to acid soil. Propagation is done by seed in autumn, softwood cuttings in summer or layer in spring.
Halesia tetraptera (Halesia carolina) var. monticola http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halesia_tetraptera.jpg Chrumps
Halesia carolina http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halesia_carolina3.jpg Kurt Stüber
Halesia monticola http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halesia_monticola_a1.jpg Jerzy Opioła
Halesia carolina http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halesia_carolina5.jpg Kurt Stüber
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halesia_tetraptera.jpg
Chrumps
