Handkerchief tree
Davidia involucrata
Also called Dove tree and Ghost tree
Garden plant · TreesIt may not flower for ten years from seed, and there is nothing wrong with it in the meantime. Buy a grafted one if you want to see the bracts this decade.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 6 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, sheltered
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
- Size
- 14 m tall · 12 m across
- Lifecycle
- Tree
- Origin
- Central and southern China
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-11. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.