Franklinia alatamaha

One of two planted today on the Tribeca terrace.

From Dirr:

"A handsome small specimen tree or large shrub valued for the showy white flowers and good fall color; if one is so fortunate to procure this species he/she should provide it a place of prominence in the garden; an aristocrat because of its interesting history; somewhat akin to a fickle lover and may stay around and tease with its beauty, or simply leave...the garden, that is; it is best not to become smitten with this plant."

Well, not sure if I'm smitten, but it has my interest. I mean, it's October, and it's just coming into bloom! Today, after it was planted, we actually watched a bud unfurl into an open flower as the sun struck it at noon, almost overhead. We'll see. The position may be too extreme: shade shade shade SUN shade shade shade.

" The story has been widely told how Jon Bartram found this plant in 1770 along the banks of the Alatamaha River in Georgia and collected a few for his garden. Strangely, this plant has never been seen in the wild since 1790, and supposedly all plants in commerce today are derived from Bartram's original collection. The species may have been sighted again in 1803 in the wild, but this is not gospel."

"...requires moist, acid, well-drained soil which has been supplied with ample organic matter; full sun or light shade buy best flowering and fall coloration occur in full sun."

Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Michael A. Dirr, revised 2009, Stipes Publishing, Champaign, Illinois.