Carolina silverbell (Halesia carolina)

Features and Characteristics

Halesia carolina, commonly called Carolina silverbell or silverbell tree, is a small, deciduous, understory tree native to the Piedmont and southern Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States. It is typically found growing on lower mountain slopes, bluffs, and stream banks in rich, mesic soil. In the wild Carolina silverbell typically does not exceed 35′ in height (though specimens have been found in the 80-100′ range), and is frequently shrubby in habit. Features drooping clusters (usually 2-5 flowers each) of bell-shaped, white flowers (1/2″) which appear in April shortly before or simultaneous to the point when the leaves emerge. Four-winged, brownish, nut-like fruits appear in the fall and often persist well into the winter. Dull, finely toothed, dark yellowish-green, ovate-oblong leaves (2-5″ long) turn a somewhat attractive yellow in fall, but may drop rather early. Synonymous with Halesia tetraptera (tetraptera meaning four-winged).

Genus name honors the Reverend Stephen Hales (1677-176- , English physiologist, chemist, and inventor.

Specific epithet means of North or South Carolina.