Emmenopterys henryi

Emmenopterys henryi is a mythical tree par excellence, with a spreading habit, grey bark, glossy dark green deciduous foliage, and reddish-bronze young shoots. It is sought after by many enthusiasts for its extremely rare white summer flowering  with an intense fragrance, which occurs in a very random and enigmatic manner, on mature subjects and under certain climatic conditions. The flowering of this tree therefore represents an undeniable challenge ! Who wants to take it up and plant this tree for posterity?

Emmenopterys henryi is an exceedingly rare and highly sought-after tree, native to eastern Asia, growing in forests at altitudes between 500 and 1600m (1500 - 5249ft). In its native habitat, it can reach heights of up to 45m (147ft) and live for over a thousand years. Belonging to the Rubiaceae family, and slow-growing, it forms a spreading and open tree, of medium to large size, reaching about 12m (39ft 5in) in cultivation, with a spread of about 8m (26ft 2in). Its exfoliating bark is brownish-grey, then becomes rough and furrowed. It has deciduous leathery foliage, composed of large glossy ovate leaves, 8 to 20cm (7.9in) long, dark green on top, lighter and hairy underneath, with a red petiole. The young shoots are a beautiful reddish-bronze. From June to August, it is adorned with creamy-white waxy tubular flowers, very decorative, with five spreading sepals and measuring 1 to 3cm (1.2in) in diameter, appearing high up on the tree's upper branches. They are grouped in panicles 7 to 18cm (7.1in) long and 15 to 25cm (9.8in) wide. Some of these flowers have the peculiarity of bearing a large white bract. This flowering exudes a powerful fragrance combining jasmine, ylang-ylang, and vanilla. Following these inflorescences, cylindrical capsule-shaped fruits, 3 to 4cm (1.6in) long, containing thin winged seeds, appear from July to September.  

This extraordinary and absolutely remarkable flowering, however, is quite random... It occurs in mature subjects and appears to be linked to very specific climatic conditions. Indeed, it seems that a long and cold winter, followed by a warm spring, promotes the start of flowering. A summer temperature that stays above 24°C for several weeks would also be conducive to the blooming of the inflorescences. 2012 was a particularly favorable year for the flowering of Emmenopterys henryi, as many trees bloomed that year in France and Europe. The event is so exceptional that it has not only been covered in specialized and local press, as well as on the internet; but also brought together passionate gardeners and botanists from all over the world to admire this almost miraculous flowering!

Ernest Henry Wilson (1876-1930), known as "Chinese Wilson", a famous English botanist who discovered numerous Asian species during his many travels in Asia, introduced Emmenopterys henryi to England in 1907, describing it as the most spectacular tree in Chinese forests.

This tree is now an endangered species in its natural habitat, due to intensive deforestation.

This tree should be planted in full sun or partial shade, in a solitary position or in the company of other trees and bushes, taking care to maintain sufficient spacing to ensure its growth. Bulbs with spring flowering, such as tulips, daffodils, and jonquils, can be planted at its base... It is also possible to incorporate it into a perennial bed, placing shade-loving plants under its branches.