Davidia involucrata : Renews leaves each year

Davidia, also called the Handkerchief Tree or Dove Tree, is a lovely and odd deciduous tree. Its unique look makes it stand out. It is part of the dogwood family, in a genus of its own. Davidia involucrata is the only type of tree in this genus.

Davidia is a beautiful tree with special features. It loses its leaves each year. Its crown is shaped like a wide pyramid. Gray bark with long grooves covers the trunk. Young branches are a green color, like olives. The leaves are heart-shaped with jagged edges. They measure about 3-6 inches. The top of the leaves are bright green, and the undersides are a paler green.

Davidia has fruits that you can eat. They taste sour and don't have much pulp. The fruits are shaped like pears, around 1.5 inches long. They can be green or purple.


This tree grows naturally in the mountains of China. You can find it in the Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan areas. It likes damp forests and humid weather.

Davidia is great for gardens and parks. Its pretty flowers and strange bracts make it good for public spaces.

For a nice garden, plan carefully. Think about how plants work together. Arrange them in a way that looks good. Choose colors that match.

Davidia is known as one of the prettiest flowering trees. This old tree type is protected by the Chinese government.