Lorenzo Blogs

Meliosma

Generally easy to grow in suitable climates and lasting over a hundred years.

The handsome foliage is pest and disease free and remains lush green into autumn.

Propagation is from seed or layers. Seed tends to be sparse on isolated trees.

Its worldwide range was once much larger including central Asia, Europe and North America before getting pushed back considerably by Ice Ages over the past few million years.

These trees are extremely rate in North America though may become far more popular in the future. There is very little info on these trees online and hopeful more trials are done with them in the future, especially in regards to urban, salt tolerance as well as adverse conditions. I also thank world famous horticulturalist Barry Yinger of Pennsylvania for his info on hardiness originating from his own personal trials of some of the species listed below - several species turned out to be much hardier than generally listed on horticulture textbooks. Seed source may also affect hardiness of the Meliosmas in the same way as Cercis - Redbud from Florida and Ontario are essentially the same tree but not with the same climatic needs. If you live in the eastern U.S., Pacific Northwest or England ask your local landscaper for one of these.



Meliosma beanii

A very imposing tree native to central China reaching around 60 feet. Some records include: largest on record - 80 x 80 feet with a trunk diameter of 4 feet.

The pinnate leaves up to 12 inches in length are composed of up to 13 leaflets up to 6 x 2.5 inches.



Meliosma cuneiifolia

A medium size deciduous tree reaching a maximum height of 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 20 inches.

The elliptic, NON pinnate, deeply veined leaves are up to 5 x 1.6 to rarely 10 x 3 inches.

The foliage is medium green above and downy beneath.

The fragrant flowers are borne in upright clusters up to 12 x 12 inches.

Small black fruits follow.

Hardy north to zone 7 preferring full sun with some mid afternoon shading to partial shade on fertile, acidic to neutral well drained soil.

* photos taken on Mar 23 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD





* photos taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD











Meliosma myriantha

A small deciduous tree reaching around 20 feet that is native to Japan. Some records include: largest on record - 66 x 30 feet.

The shiny green, NON pinnate, oblong leaves are up to 10 x 3 or rarely 12 x 5 inches in size.

The erect flower clusters are up to 10 inches in length.

The branches are brown and the bark is gray-brown.

Hardy north to zone 7 but young trees should be protected from

winter winds and late freezes. Established trees may survive temperatures as low as -12 F however with dieback of branches - however should also recover from that during following summer.



Meliosma oldhamii ( Oldham Worm-head Tree )

Also called Meliosma pinnata subsp. oldhamii. A handsome impressive deciduous tree native to southeast Asia that reaches around 80 feet. Some records include: largest on record - 133 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet. Upright in youth, this tree later develops a spreading canopy. Reported to be slow growing in the Pacific Northwest, it is likely much faster growing in climates with hot humid summers as in the Mid Atlantic and Deep South U.S. where it has not yet been widely tested.

The pinnate leaves up to 20 inches in length are composed of 7 to 15 coarsely toothed Walnut-like, often drooping, broad leaflets up to 7 x 1.6 inches. The foliage appears early in spring.

The fragrant, very small flowers are borne in large erect panicles up to 12 inches long in late spring when the foliage is almost fully developed.

The flowers are followed by round berries up to 0.2 inches across.

The branching is coarse and stiff resembling the Gymnocladus.

Hardy north to zone 6, established trees may survive temperatures as low as -28 F however with dieback of branches - however should also recover from that during following summer. Problems with this tree and hardiness in England are more to do with late spring frost and cool summers rather than winter cold. Due to this trees expansive range in the wild, only seed source from parts of its range where winters freezes occur should be used in the U.S. and Great Britain.



Meliosma parviflora ( Small Flowered Meliosma )

A small deciduous tree reaching around 25 feet in the southeast U.S. Some records include: largest on record - 33 feet.

The NON pinnate obovate leaves, up to 4.3 x 3 inches are deep green above.

The flowers are borne in terminal panicles up to 12 x 8 inches during summer.

The bark is smooth and gray.

Hardy north to zone 7 in hot summer climates though not known to be planted north to North Carolina.



Meliosma simplicifolia

A fast growing medium size evergreen tree native to India that reaches a maximum height of 66 feet with a trunk diameter of 10 inches.

The large elliptical leaves are up to 20 x 6 inches.

The terminal flower clusters reach 24 inches in length.

Hardy north to zone 10. In England sizeable trees ( around 35 feet ) are only known to grow in Cornwall.



Meliosma tenuis

A small tree with attractive elliptical leaves that somewhat resemble that of the Zelkova but deeper-toothed.

The flowers are followed by berries that are black.

Hardy zones 5 to 9, tolerating both temperatures as low as -28 F without damage as well as hot humid summers. This is the hardiest of all Meliosma and should be trialed in the midwest for suitablity for urban plantings.



Meliosma veitchiana ( Veitch Meliosma )

A bold striking large deciduous tree native to central and western China reaching around 80 feet or sometimes much more. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 13 feet; largest on record - 170 x 30 feet with a trunk diameter of 2.6 feet; largest in England - 50 feet in Sussex ( prefers hot summers ).

The large tropical looking pinnate compound leaves up to 40 inches in length are composed of 9 to 11 broad red stemmed leaflets up to 8 x 3.5 inches in length.

The terminal leaflet is usually the largest.

The tiny fragrant flowers are borne in large clusters up to 18 x 12 inches.

The fruit stalks are pendulous.

Very coarsely branched with large buds, it looks somewhat like the Kentucky Coffee Tree in winter.

Hardy zones 6 to 9, this species unlike the others has a preference for hot humid summers and grows well in the Mid Atlantic region of the U.S. It has not been fully tested in the U.S. however it does grow in Washington D.C. and I suspect further north into Pennsylvania ( except for mountain valleys and peaks ) and New Jersey where hot summers harden it for winter.

It does not leaf out as early as some other species such as M. oldhamii and is therefor less prone to damage from late spring frosts. Very easy to grow however requires full sun ( which the National Arboretum tree below does not have ) and deep, moist soil.





* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.