Franklin Tree
Franklinia alatamaha
Extinct in the wild since 1803; every tree descends from Bartram seed. White late-summer flowers open beside blazing orange-red fall foliage.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
Extinct in the wild since 1803, fragrant white flowers in fall alongside blazing orange-red foliage. Franklin tree is the most remarkable tree in our entire catalog.
Franklin tree has one of the most remarkable stories in American botanical history. The species was discovered in 1765 by John and William Bartram along the Altamaha River in Georgia. By 1803, it was gone from the wild: extinct, never seen in nature again. Every Franklinia alive today descends from seeds the Bartrams collected before it vanished. Planting one is an act of botanical stewardship with no parallel. Five-petaled white flowers with brilliant yellow stamens open in late summer and fall, often alongside the blazing orange-red fall foliage, a combination that's simply beautiful. Fragrant, attractive to bees, and flowering at a time when most trees are done. This is the tree for the gardener who wants something genuinely rare, historically significant, and visually stunning all at once.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown franklin tree propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 10–20 ft · 8–15 ft wide
- Bloom time
- Late summer to fall
- Bloom color
- White
- USDA zones
- 5–9
- Family
- Theaceae
- Native range
- Originally along Altamaha River, Georgia (extinct in wild)
Care notes for franklin tree.
Full sun to part shade, moist well-drained acidic soil. Finicky about drainage. will not tolerate wet feet or heavy clay. Plant in raised beds or amended sites if drainage is poor. Water consistently. Do not move once established. Mulch to maintain soil acidity. Protect from harsh afternoon sun in the South.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside franklin tree.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.