FRANKLINIA alatahama
Franklin Tree

A very beautiful, hard to find, late summer to fall blooming tree, with large single white flowers with yellow stamens. The lustrous dark green foliage turns shades of rich mahogany red and orange in the fall. A small to medium sized tree, with upright, spreading branches. All plants in cultivation today can be traced back to the original collection of John Bartram in 1770. No plants have been found in the wild since 1791!
Zone 5 with protection

Companion Plants These plants will complement this month's featured plant very nicely and make excellent companions in the mixed border or landscape.

COTINUS coggygria 'Royal Purple' This is the best purple-leaf cultivar, with handsome dark purple leaves which maintain their color well through the season. Fluffy blooms outline the plant like smoke in summer, and the fall color is often a spectacular reddish-purple. Grows 12' by 12'. Zone 6

GENTIANA scabra var. 'Buergeri' A perennial with 1' arching stems bear clusters of intense blue tubular flowers in October and November - a favorite of our Winter Garden visitors. Zone 5

ITEA virginica 'Henry's Garnet' Henry's Garnet Sweetspire A selected form of Itea with a rich purple fall color that lasts into December. A must for fall shrub border. Quite tolerant of damp soils, and a great plant for naturalizing. Zone 5

PICEA orientalis 'Compacta' A dwarf form with a broad conical habit, growing as high as wide, with branches nearly horizontal. Handsome short, dark, glossy green needles. Zone 5