Halesia tetraptera var. monticola forma rosea – Pink Mountain Silverbell

Mountain Silverbell hails from moist to wet ridges and remote forest coves in the Great Smokies. While some botanists consider it to represent only one extreme of a continuously variable species, from a horticultural perspective it is unique – flowers are larger, as is the tree itself, and single-trunked trees can occasionally be found reaching into the forest canopy. Few trees match the beauty of Silverbell when at peak bloom. The white flowers often have a slight pink tinge to them. While not indigenous to the Catskills it is completely hardy here.

Description

Storax family (Styracaceae)

Trees with flowers in various shades of pink occur in Mountain Silverbell and just about any tree with more of a pink flower could be termed “forma rosea.” A tree from the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University has strong pink flowers and goes by the cultivar name ‘Arnold Pink’ The buds and newly opened flowers of ‘Arnold Pink’ are deep pink – the flowers fade to pale pink almost white as they age – the combination is quite exquisite. While not indigenous to the Catskills the species and ‘Arnold Pink’ are perfectly hardy here – the tree at the end of one of our lathe shadehouses is an ‘Arnold Pink’ and has been thriving here since we opened. The image of flowers is from that tree.

Updated 16 March 2024