Hoyt Arboretum, Portland, Oregon, USA

Common name: Carolina silverbell

Family: Styracaceae

Distribution: Southeastern United States

Habitat: Understory of mixed evegreen and deciduous forest

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Hardiness: Zone 4b -25 to -20 F

Life form: Deciduous tree

Usage: Ornamental shade tree

Comments: A small, deciduous, understory tree native to the Piedmont and southern Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States. It is typically found growing on lower mountain slopes, bluffs, and stream banks in rich, mesic soil. In the wild, Carolina silverbell typically does not exceed 35' in height (though specimens have been found in the 80-100' range), and is frequently shrubby in habit. Features drooping clusters usually 2-5 flowers each of bell-shaped, white flowers 1/2" which appear in April shortly before or simultaneous to the point when the leaves emerge. Four-winged, brownish, nut-like fruits appear in the fall and often persist well into the winter. Dull, finely toothed, dark yellowish-green, ovate-oblong leaves 2-5" long turn a somewhat attractive yellow in fall, but may drop rather early. Synonymous with Halesia tetraptera (tetraptera meaning four-winged).
Best grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, acidic, organically rich soils in part shade.