Handkerchief tree

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Plant names are interesting. Some have names that you just can’t figure out how they originated, like Bear’s breeches for example. Others are named for their historical uses, such as Butcher’s broom, Ladies’ bedstraw or Woundwort. And some have names that are simply the first thing that comes to mind when you see one. This is clearly an example of the latter – a handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata). I saw a couple of these recently at gardens we visited. Obviously it is just the right time of year to notice them; the rest of the year I probably might not have paid them much attention. If you had ‘discovered’ this tree, what would you have named it? Incidentally it originates from China - @changjiangzhibin89 do you know the name of this tree in its home country? All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2023.