Silverbell Tree

A beautiful little tree. Pictured here and in the exhibit is Halesia carolina 'Jersey Belle'.

Halesia carolina, commonly called little silverbells, is a species of flowering plant in the family Styracaceae, native to southeastern USA. It is a vigorous, fast-growing deciduous shrub or tree growing to 8 m (26 ft) tall by 10 m (33 ft) broad, bearing masses of pendent, bell-shaped white flowers which appear in spring before the leaves. The flowers are followed by green, four-winged fruit. The leaves turn yellow in autumn.

'Jersey Belle' Carolina Silverbell has very large white bell-shaped flowers that hang thickly under the branches in May. Foliage turns an attractive yellow in fall and the bark adds winter interest with its contrasting striations. Halesia carolina (formerly tetraptera) 'Jersey Belle' was named and introduced by Princeton Nurseries.

In cultivation in the United Kingdom, H. carolina Vestita Group has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

http://www.pleasantrunnursery.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/1294/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halesia_carolina