PITTSVILLE, MARYLAND 39 
You Should Grow 
The Rare Franklinia 
(Franklinia Alatamaha; Gordonia Alatamaha) 
Oue of Our Gest Sellers 
Franklinia have proved hardy in Toledo, Ohio for 
past four years. 
Our sales of Franklinia have increased more in 
the past three years than that of any plant we sell. 
It is one plant most every one wants once they see 
it and they tell their friends about it, too. 
This exquisite fall-flowering tree was brought in 1777 from 
the banks of the Alatamaha River in Georgia to Bartram’s 
garden at Philadelphia. John Bartram, recognizing its 
extraordinary beauty and value, named it in honor of his 
life-long friend, Benjamin Franklin. 
The original grove of Franklinia trees was again visited 
in 1790, but from that day to this no one has seen these trees 
growing in the wild, though many expeditions have searched 
the banks of the Alatamaha for them. 
Franklin’s tree is beautiful in detail and marvelous in 
landscape effect, besides blooming at a season when few 
shrubs or trees are in flower. 
The slender trunk and graceful branches are so muscular 
and sinewy in appearance that one almost expects motion 
as under a greyhound’s skin. The bark is smooth and dark 
gray, with wavering lengthwise markings of lighter color. 
Each twig develops at its tip a cluster of buds of graduated 
size, like overgrown greenish pearls. Early in August the 
largest of these attain the size of marbles. Then the guard 
petal folds back, still retaining its firm spherical form. From 
this shelter emerge four other petals, satiny, snowy white, 
elaborately frilled and pleated. The snowy, frilly chalice, 
three inches in diameter, holds a sumptuous mass of orange- 
gold stamens and breathes forth a delicate, balmy fragrance. 
Each flower lasts two or three days and then drops cleanly. 
There is 2 constant succession of bloom till hard frost. We 
frequently get the unusual effect of a tree clad in crimson, 
autumn foliage and abundantly starred with white flowers. 
The Franklinia begins blooming when not more than 
3 or 4 feet high. Young trees under favorable conditions in- 
crease in heignt a foot or more each season. Specimens 30 
feet high are kncewn. It develops naturally with several 
trunks, but may easily be trained to a single trunk by 
removing the sprouts which start from the base. 
Franklinia prefers full sun, has proved entirely hardy 
about New York and hardy in favorable locations about 
Boston. It is an especially desirable tree for the small, 
intimate garden, loved and lived in. It is a charming lawn 
tree and the grass may be allowed to grow closely about the 
trunk. It also thrives when planted by pools, lakes and 
streams. Its light elegance of form and color contrasts 
exquisitely with the dark green of conifers. 
potems marked by an asterisk (*) are classed as Lining-Out 
stock. 
Each 10 100 
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Put a few of these Franklinia in your display garden so 
your customers may see them in bloom. You will be sur- 
prised at the extra sales you will make. The leading garden 
magazines have featured them in their columns. 
