Davidia involucrata, often called the dove tree or handkerchief tree, is famous for its remarkable flowers. Strictly speaking, the round central heads are the flowers, but what everyone notices are the two large, pure‑white bracts that hang on either side like fluttering handkerchiefs. In a good year, a well‑grown tree can be dotted with these dangling “doves” in May, each bract pair twisting and moving in the breeze. Seen from across a lawn, it’s a genuinely striking sight – unusual enough that even non‑gardeners tend to remember it. In UK gardens, the first proper flowering can take a few years, but it’s well worth the wait.
Common name: Handkerchief tree, dove tree, sometimes ghost tree.
Latin name: Davidia involucrata
Size in UK gardens: Often 6–10m tall and 4–7m wide over time; in very favourable conditions and many years it can grow larger, but in typical gardens it’s a medium tree.
Best position: A sunny or lightly shaded, reasonably sheltered spot with room to develop a broad crown; best as a standalone specimen or at the edge of a lawn or border.
Soil: Moist but well‑drained, humus‑rich soil – good loam or improved clay; dislikes very shallow, very dry or extremely chalky soils.
Flowering time: Showy white bracts around late spring to early summer (typically May), once the tree is mature enough; foliage provides interest through summer and autumn.
Fragrance: The bracts are grown for their visual effect, not scent; any fragrance is usually modest and not the main feature.
Hardiness: Generally hardy across most of the UK once established, though young trees and very early leaves can be nipped by late frosts and cold winds.
Care level: Moderate – not difficult if you can offer decent soil, steady moisture and a little shelter, with minimal pruning and some patience before it flowers well.
The Simpson’s team raises the majority of our trees here at the nursery. For varieties outside our own production, we work with independent local growers we trust - all chosen for UK climate suitability.
Planting time: As container‑grown trees, Davidia can be planted in most months when the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged. Autumn and early spring are usually best, giving roots time to establish before summer heat or winter cold.
Watering: Water regularly while the tree is establishing, particularly in dry springs and summers, so the rootball and surrounding soil don’t dry out. Even once established, Davidia appreciates some moisture in prolonged drought, especially on lighter soils.
Feeding: In good garden soil, a yearly mulch of compost or well‑rotted manure over the root area is usually enough. On particularly poor or sandy soils, a light, balanced fertiliser in early spring can support steady growth, but avoid heavy feeding that encourages very soft, sappy shoots.
Pruning: The dove tree needs very little routine pruning. Limit work to removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and any very awkward shoots spoiling the framework. Major shaping is best done when the tree is young; mature trees are usually left to develop their natural form.
Winter: Established trees normally need no special winter protection beyond their mulch. Young trees benefit from a sheltered spot, firm staking and avoidance of waterlogged soil. In very cold snaps, the bare framework usually copes well; it’s the spring growth that is more vulnerable to late frosts.
Availability is always changing, so please check with us if you have a particular variety in mind.
Few trees stop you quite like this one: in late spring its branches hang with large white “handkerchiefs” fluttering among the leaves, creating a magical, ghostly display. Even out of flower it has a handsome, broad-leaved look, making a superb specimen with real theatre.
All the charm of the handkerchief tree, but with a more upright, space-friendly silhouette. When it flowers, the white bracts dangle and catch the light like little flags, giving that same unforgettable spectacle—ideal if you want the drama but prefer a narrower outline.
