Family: Nyssaceae
Scientific name: Davidia involucrata
Common name: Dove tree / Handkerchief tree
Origin: Western China
The handkerchief tree is a beautiful tree that is hardy and stands out with its special inflorescence. The flowers have two white, unequal bracts up to 15 cm which hang down just like handkerchiefs. The tree may end up being more than 20 meters high, but grows very slowly. The trees are nowadays commonly offered by tree cultivators, but propagation from seeds is still a rarity.
Sowing description: The handkerchief tree is a challenge to germinate, but it is certainly possible.
Sow the seeds in sowing mix and keep the soil constantly moist. Set aside in a warm place indoors (cover with foil or glass) and check every few weeks whether there will be a root from the seeds (can take months, possibly longer than a year). As soon as you can see a small root, you can plant that seed cautiously in new sowing mix and leave it three months in the refrigerator (keep soil moisty). After this period, restore it at room temperature.
Sowing time: Whole year
Difficulty: Challenging
Minimum temperature: -20 degrees Celsius
Photo 2: Abudulla Saheem via Flickr
