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The Franklinia alatamaha is native to southeastern Georgia and reaches a height of 10-20
feet in 20 years. This multi-stemmed tree has year-round interest. Its creamy white fragrant
flowers bloom from late July into September. The dark green leaves turn orange and red in the
fall, often in combination with a few late flowers. Subtly striped branches and persistent
seed capsules add winter interest.
Alas, the Franklinia has a notorious reputation for being difficult to grow. Cultivation information has long been sparse and vague. To remedy this, Bartram's
Garden gathered input from expert horticulturists and responses from an international
Franklinia Census to come up with growing tips.
- Proper site selection and pre-planting preparation are crucial.
- Plant a Franklinia in a site with excellent drainage, acidic soil enriched with
organic matter with a pH between 5-6, and protection from strong winds.
- The Franklinia tolerates full sun as well as dense shade, but fares best
in partial shade (about a half day of sunlight).
- Apply mulch lightly over entire root area and make sure it has adequate
water in the summer, and through the fall when it still growing and flowering.
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FRANKLINIA LINKS
*Franklinia Census
*Franklinia Census Results
*Franklinia Census Form
*Franklinia Retail Sources
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