For the first time in Britain, two specimens of a rare Chinese tree have flowered at the same time on the same site; The deciduous tree (Emmenopterys henryi) is native to central and south-west China and was introduced to Britain in 1907 by the great plant hunter Ernest Wilson.
We planted a specimen in the Azalea Ringin 1928, which has flowered for the first time this year, along with its younger companion. The larger of the two, about 40 feet high, is collected from Forrest’s seed and has broader leaves. The smaller one is believed to be from Wilson’s collection bearing smaller leaves.
Described by Wilson as "one of the most strikingly beautiful trees of Chinese forests", the Emmenopterys is notoriously shy to flower in the West. It has reddish-purple young shoots and striking red leaves in spring, which mature to a glossy green, producing a shock of small white flowers.
The first to flower in the West was at Villa Taranto by Lake Maggiore, Italy, in 1971, while the first in the UK was at Kew Gardens’ sister site Wakehurst Place, West Sussex, in 1987.
Weather extremes are thought to trigger flowering. The cold, snowy winter and hot summer that year were mimicked in 2010 when Borde Hill’s younger specimen flowered, as did Wakehurst’s counterpart.
Severe cold and snow this year, followed in the summer by intense heat could have created the conditions ideal for both Borde Hill specimens to bloom.
‘This is a rare and amazing chance to witness the flowering of both plants in such abundance’ said Andy Stevens, Head Gardener.
The 1928 tree at Borde Hill, grown from seed collected by plant hunter George Forrest, on an expedition in Southern China, was one of many such expeditions sponsored by Colonel Stephenson Clarke over nearly 40 years that helped create the notable collection of trees and shrubs at the Grade II* listed Garden. Today we hold the largest collection of ‘champion’ trees to be found in private collection in the British Isles.
