Halesia carolina var. monticola - Mountain Silverbell, Carolina Silverbell

The Halesia carolina var. monticola, also known as Halesia monticola, is a deciduous small tree nicknamed Silver Bell Tree or Snowdrop Tree for its white, drooping bell-shaped flowers. It also offers beautiful golden autumn foliage and grey bark that peels off over time. Its initially rounded shape evolves into an irregular parasol form. Showcase it: prune it close to the ground to form multiple trunks, plant it in a grove or at the center of a shrub massif. This tree thrives only in acidic, humus-rich soils that remain cool in summer.

The Halesia carolina var. monticola belongs to the Styracaceae family, being a relative of Styrax. This botanical species is native to the forests of the southern United States, particularly the Appalachians, which earned it the name 'mountain halésia.' In nature, this tree grows on slopes, in open forests, and at the forest edges, alongside the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) and the Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). It thrives in deep, humus-rich, neutral to acidic soils, always moist to wet but light. Closely related to Halesia carolina, this species stands out with a larger size and bigger flowers.

Halesia monticola naturally forms multiple trunks supporting a flexible, spreading canopy wider than tall. Training pruning can maintain one or two main trunks, although its irregular shape makes this challenging. Its growth is rather slow, averaging 5 m in height and 8.50 m in spread. Its flexible branches bear 10 cm long, oval, alternate, finely toothed leaves, medium green turning yellow in autumn before dropping. It typically blooms in early May, profusely, just before or simultaneously with leaf emergence, on year-old branches: clusters of 3 to 5 bell-shaped, 3-4 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, drooping, white flowers with four petals form along the branches. They emerge from pink buds. After pollination, decorative winged fruits develop, initially green then turning brown, persisting on the branches through winter. Over time, the brown bark becomes grey and flakes off.

Halesia monticola thrives in our humid climates, in acidic, sandy, rich, moist, light soils, in sunny or partially shaded locations sheltered from winds. Enjoy its elegance as a standalone specimen in a lawn or pair it with large rhododendrons, witch hazels, styrax, or magnolias sharing the same growing requirements.

Tip: Halésias appreciate a humid atmosphere during their growth, so spray the foliage of young plants after very hot days.