Firmiana simplex – Chinese Parasol Tree

Firmiana simplex seed podsFirmiana simplex seed pods2Here are photos I took yesterday of one of my favorite trees in the garden, Firmiana simplex.  The common name, Chinese parasol tree came about since the seed pods look like umbrellas with little heads clustered underneath.  We also love it for the bark, which stays green year round…a trait not seen in many winter hardy trees.  We’ve seen firmiana growing as far north as Philadelphia, which is its northern limit.  We don’t sell trees, but if you’re here for our fall open nursery and garden in September, we’re always glad to share seed, which germinate easily.Firmiana simplex bark closeup

Here are photos I took yesterday of one of my favorite trees in the garden, Firmiana simplex.  The common name, Chinese parasol tree came about since the seed pods look like umbrellas with little heads clustered underneath.  We also love it for the bark, which stays green year round…a trait not seen in many winter hardy trees.  We’ve seen firmiana growing as far north as Philadelphia, which is its northern limit.  We don’t sell trees, but if you’re here for our fall open nursery and garden in September, we’re always glad to share seed, which germinate easily.

10 thoughts on “Firmiana simplex – Chinese Parasol Tree”

  1. Mine is around 5 years old, and is already over the roof of my 2 story house and doing well here in 7a Maryland. A really nice tree

  2. Hi there! I live in SE Michigan, where I study the history of Chinese medicine. Can you tell me how big the parasol tree seeds are, both on the tree and after they are dried? I ask because in historical medical texts, they are constantly instructing the readers to “make pills the size of the seeds of the wutong tree (parasol tree)” and I would like to understand exactly how big they are. Don’t know if you might even be able to mail me some (for me to use in show and tell). I assume that Michigan is too cold for me to plant the tree myself? Many thanks!

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