Huodendron biaristatum

Related to Styrax, Huodendron biaristatum is a tall deciduous bush with dense, shiny green foliage, and its young shoots are beautifully coppery. In autumn, its leaves turn beautiful yellow colours. In spring, it is adorned with pendulous, bell-shaped white flower clusters with long, visible yellow stamens. A charming, very rare small tree that truly deserves immediate adoption!

Huodendron biaristatum is a tree from the Styracaceae family, native to China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam. In its original habitat, it can reach a height of 12m (39ft 5in), but in our latitudes, it forms a compact small tree of about 3m (9ft 10in). It has beautiful deciduous foliage, with shiny, narrow, pointed leaves that are dark green and turn yellow-green in autumn. Its young leaves are purple. Flowering occurs from April to June, in the form of clusters of small white flowers, bell-shaped and pendant, with long yellow stamens. From June to October, oval-shaped grey fruits with a cottony appearance and containing seeds appear.

This small tree, very easy to grow and requiring a sunny or semi-shaded location, would ideally be planted in a garden as a standalone feature or integrated into a shrub border, accompanied by bulbs or shade-loving perennial plants that will enhance its base. The perfect location would be the top of a mound or slope to ensure an unobstructed view of its beautiful bell-shaped white flowers!