Pterostyrax hispida: The Fragrant Epaulette Tree Pterostyrax hispida: The Fragrant Epaulette TreeBy Robert Redmon
Fragrant epaulette tree, Pterostyrax hispida, is one of those little known, rarely grown, and therefore, rarely seen, flowering ornamental trees. It flowers in the late spring when many trees are finished. It's white flowers are 2 to 3 inch wide pendulous panicles about 5 to 10 inches in length. The tree itself is a moderate grower (2 feet per year) and begins flowering at about 8 to 10 feet in height. The foliage is quite clean and the plant itself is bothered very little by insect or disease. Japanese beetles won't even touch it. There is no real fall color to speak of (yellow-green) but the summer folige is bright green above and silvery below.
The leaves resemble those of Styrax, which isn't surprising since Pterostyrax is a member of the Styracaceae family, along with with the Styrax and Halesias.
The tree ultimately will reach 20 to 30 feet in height with a similiar spread and left undesturbed will assume a teardrop shape. It's root system is very fibrous which lends itself to transplanting successfully and easily being container or field grown by the trade. It is very hardy to cold (rated zone 4 to 8) and holds up to heat well in the Gulf South. I had pot bound trees in 5 gallon containers with no protection which survived below 0 conditions and 65 degree temperature swings within 5 days of each other in late February with very little tip dieback.
Pterostyrax hispida has definite possibilities for the home and small commercial landscape. However, it is extremely difficult to locate in commerce. My trees were grown from seed, collected in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky (collect only if you receive permission first, this is just a standard rule of courtesy which applies to all collections). The trees are extremely easy to root from cuttings. Cuttings collected in late July ( I used P-ITB, a new hormone) are rooting by mid-to-late August. The stems lose their gray outerbark in papery thin stringy strips. This helps add to the interest of the plant.
I am sharing this plant with some nurserymen to develop a interest and sources for fragrant epaulette tree. Hopefully, in the future it will get the attention it deserves.
GardenWeb wishes to express its gratitude to Mr. Redmon for sharing his knowledge and experience with our readers.
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