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Halesia spp.

silverbells

Styracaceae

Eastern North America and eastern China

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Halesia spp. is a genus of small deciduous trees and large shrubs in the storax family, with most species native to the southeastern United States and one in eastern China. Plants grow 15 to 40 feet (4.5 to 12 m) tall, often multi-trunked, with a rounded, spreading crown and finely furrowed bark. In mid-spring, before or as the leaves expand, the branches hang with clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers 0.5 to 1 inch (1.5 to 2.5 cm) long, each dangling on a slender stalk along the undersides of the twigs. The flowers give way to dry fruit with two or four papery wings that ripen brown and persist into winter. The oval leaves turn pale yellow in fall. The genus needs moist, acid soil and grows poorly on dry, alkaline, or compacted ground, and the spring flowers can be cut short by a late frost.

Native Range

Most Halesia spp. species are native to the southeastern United States, from the Carolinas and Tennessee south along streams, ravines, and moist wooded slopes of the Appalachian region. One species, H. macgregorii, is native to southeastern China. In the wild the genus grows as an understory tree in deciduous forest.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a flowering specimen and understory tree in woodland gardens, shrub borders, and near patios where the hanging spring flowers are seen from below. Plants combine with rhododendrons and other acid-loving shrubs. They are spaced 15 to 25 feet (4.5 to 7.5 m) apart.

How to Identify

Recognized in spring by rows of white, bell-shaped, four-lobed flowers hanging beneath the spreading branches on thin stalks. After bloom the dry, two- or four-winged fruit are characteristic and remain on the tree into winter. The drooping bell flowers and winged fruit separate Halesia spp. from the related snowbells (Styrax spp.), which have unwinged fleshy fruit.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 40'

Width/Spread15' - 35'

Reaches mature size in approximately 20 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Flowering occurs in mid-spring, about April to May, as the new leaves emerge. The bell-shaped flowers open over one to two weeks and line the undersides of the branches. A late frost can damage open flowers and reduce the display.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white, sometimes pink

Foliage Description

green, pale yellow in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Reaches mature size in 15 to 25 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to part shade and need moist, fertile, well-drained, acid soil enriched with organic matter. They grow well at woodland edges with shelter from drying wind and afternoon heat in hot climates. Watering is needed during dry spells, as the genus is intolerant of drought and alkaline soil. Few pests or diseases trouble plants, and little routine care is needed once established. A mulch over the roots keeps the soil cool and moist.

Pruning

Pruning is limited to removing dead or crossing branches and is done after flowering in late spring. Multi-stemmed plants can be thinned to a few main trunks to form a small tree. Plants need little shaping and respond poorly to hard pruning.