How to Grow & Care for a Franklinia Alatamaha Tree

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The Franklinia alatamaha tree in Pennsylvania, also known as the “lost camellia,” is a rare and beautiful addition to any garden. Native to Georgia, it boasts striking white blossoms with a citrusy fragrance and vibrant autumn foliage. Once extinct in the wild, this tree thrives through the dedication of gardeners and nurseries. With proper care, you can help preserve its legacy while creating a stunning focal point in your yard.

Choosing the Right Spot for Your Franklinia Alatamaha Tree

To replicate its native habitat, plant your Franklinia alatamaha tree in a spot with well-draining, acidic soil. A mix of loam and sand helps mimic Georgia’s riverbanks but ensures the soil remains nutrient-rich. This tree prefers partial to full sunlight—ideally morning light with some afternoon shade. Choose a location shielded from harsh winds to protect its delicate flowers.

Care Essentials for Thriving Growth

  • Watering: Franklinia alatamaha trees thrive with consistent, moderate watering. Maintain moist, unwaterlogged soil and adjust watering based on seasonal rainfall.
  • Pruning: Prune after blooming to maintain shape and remove dead branches. Late winter also works well before new growth begins.
  • Pest Prevention: Common pests include aphids or scale insects, which can be controlled with organic sprays or neem oil. Regularly check for root rot or fungal infections caused by overwatering.

Leaving a Legacy

The Franklinia alatamaha tree symbolizes care and commitment, echoing the mission of preserving endangered species. Growers in Pennsylvania and beyond ensure its survival with attention and passion. Seek wholesale nursery stock for a sustainable start and join this meaningful effort today.

WHERE’S THE COLOR?

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From Pennsylvania to Maine, people have been saying, “Where’s the fall color in the trees?”

The yellows, reds, oranges, even the purples — notable by their absence this year.

It’s the chlorophyll. Chlorophyll needs to degrade (breakdown) so the underlying colors (the anticipated fall colors) can show. Those other colors, the reds etc., are there all the time; they’re just covered by the dominant green of chlorophyll.

With the excessive heat of this summer and fall (ten degrees above normal for mid-October here in PA) the chlorophyll hasn’t degraded. Maine reports seventy per cent less color than a year ago. Now, climate change doesn’t go that fast, so some of this year’s oddity is just that — an oddity. But we are getting warmer and it is going to affect fall color in our trees.

Franklinia altamaha

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Franklinia alatamaha

A lovely and rare tree. Seen by John Bartam and his brother William in 1765 along the banks of the Alatamaha River in Geogia. John collected seeds which he planted and cultivated at his home near Philadelphia

He named the tree Franklinia in honor of his father’s friend, Benjamin Franklin. The tree has not been seen in the wild since the early 1800’s. All current Franklinia trees are descendents of those seeds John Bartram collected almost 260 years ago.