Snowdrop tree
Halesia carolina
Also called Silver bell, Carolina silverbell and Halesia
Garden plant · TreesIn May the whole underside of every branch is hung with white bells, so it is a tree to plant where you walk UNDER it — put it at the back of a border and you will see almost nothing of the display.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 4 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Sun to part shade, sheltered
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 8 m tall · 8 m across
- Lifecycle
- Tree
- Origin
- South-eastern United States
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
HandlingTake care handling it
ASPCA lists Halesia carolina by exact binomial, under the common name "Silver Bell", as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-22.
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.
First signs of trouble
- A tree that seems barely to flower. Every bell hangs from the UNDERSIDE of the branch — from above or from a distance there is almost nothing to see, and the answer is where it is planted, not how it is fed.Planted where nobody stands under it · disorder
- Pale yellow leaves with green veins, and weak growth, on alkaline soil. Like the stewartia beside it, this one needs acid ground.Chlorosis on chalk · disorder