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Native Plant Database

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Halesia tetraptera (Mountain silverbell)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Halesia tetraptera Ellis

Mountain silverbell, Carolina silverbell, Silverbell tree

Styracaceae (Snowball Family)

Synonyms: Halesia tetraptera var. monticola, Halesia carolina var. monticola

USDA Symbol: HATE3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Mountain silverbell or Carolina silverbell is a small understory tree or spreading shrub to 60 ft. in height. Delicate white or pinkish, bell-shaped flowers droop gracefully along the undersides of twiggy branches. The flowers are followed by four-winged fruits which cure tan and are interesting the fall. The bark of young trees is striped and on older specimens has a pattern of white furrows between gray-brown plates. Deciduous leaves are dark yellow-green in summer, changing to yellow in fall.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 36-72 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: May

Distribution

USA: AR , GA , IL , IN , KY , MI , MO , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Native Distribution: FL to e. TX, n. to PA, extreme s. IN & s. IL, s.e. MO & OK
Native Habitat: Rich, hardwood forests; stream banks
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained, organic loam.
Conditions Comments: This species is not attacked by insects but is damaged by winds and will become chlorotic in high pH soils. It blooms a week or so before the dogwoods. Use of the less familiar name, H. tetraptera, for this species instead of the commonly used H. carolina may cause confusion, but is correct under the rules of nomenclature. A distinct species, H. parviflora, is also referred to as H. carolina. It is a similar but smaller plant, rarely exceeding 40 ft., and occurs primarily along the Gulf Coast. The mountainous sp., H. monticola, is sometimes classified as a variety of H. carolina. It is larger and more dramatic than any of the other species or varieties.

Propagation

Description: Seeds require a period of after-ripening followed by cold, moist stratification. Seeds may take two years to sprout. Layering, root cuttings and softwood cuttings will root. Rooted cuttings should not be transplanted until growth flushes the following
Seed Collection: Collect fruit from early fall to early winter. Air dry to prevent molding or rotting. Store in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Seed Treatment: Double stratification: 60-75 degrees for 90 days, followed by 90 more days of 33-41 degrees.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Georgia Native Plant Society - Atlanta, GA

Bibliography

Bibref 996 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Halesia tetraptera in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Halesia tetraptera in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Halesia tetraptera

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-10-15
Research By: TWC Staff

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