US zone 8, piedmont ecoregion.
hi friends! if anyone has any tips on caring for this tree, i am all ears! i've done extensive research on the tree and have been rewilding a couple acres so not new to plant stewardship… but i am feeling very anxious about this tree and looking for guidance from direct experience specifically, please! what type of soil is the best from what you've seen? do you do anything for fungus? do you add compost to the soil? has anyone successfully grown one in clay? can you grow them in large tree pots? what type of sun does it get? is there anything you've found helpful i should know? 2nd pic for puppy tax since her toes are in the 1st lol. THANK YOU!
by hesi-tater
5 Comments
you dog looks like she should be named goose
Don’t know anything about your ecoregion but that pup has a sweet face!
I briefly read up on franklinia alatamaha and I find it so fascinating that such a rare specimen can only be found cultivated. It’s such a beautiful tree.
I don’t think compost would do a lot for it in the long term besides give it extra nutrients. The tree itself seems very susceptible to root disease so clay would definitely be a no-no for it. Since it is adapted to growing alongside rivers a more loamy soil that is well drained but also kept moist (either my a stream or watering) would be best for it. Google says part to full sun is what it needs.
I killed my bare root amelanchier laevis which needs similar conditions this year by neglecting watering it so I definitely recommend giving it a lot of water especially in the first year or when it gets very hot.
The Franklinia story is epic. I’ve been a fan since learning it in the ‘80s. Good luck.
Great tips! Keeping it well-watered and in loamy soil sounds key. Good luck with your franklinia, and love the puppy toes.