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Pterostyrax psilophyllus

small epaulette tree

A deciduous tree to 15m tall with oblong to elliptic, bristle-toothed leaves to 15cm long covered with a grey down on the undersides and sometimes tinted with yellow and bronze in autumn. White, scented flowers in panicles to 15cm long are borne in late spring and early summer and followed by bristly, ribbed fruits to 2.5cm long

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Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring White Green
Summer White Green
Autumn Green Bronze Yellow
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Styracaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Pterostyrax can be deciduous trees or large shrubs, with peeling bark, simple leaves and drooping panicles of small, 5-lobed, bell-shaped flowers held beneath the branches, and followed by small ribbed fruits.

Name status

Correct

Plant range
China

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained, acid or neutral soil, sheltered from cold winds

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Low Maintenance
Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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