Igiri Tree

Idesia polycarpa; the lone species in the Idesia genus ( part of the larger Flacourtiaceae family ); forms a very fast growing, horizontally-branched, broad-pyramidal, deciduous, large tree, native to eastern China, Korea and Japan. Some records include; 6 years - 25 x 25 feet; 20 years - 50 x 30 feet; 30 years - trunk diameter of 2.6 feet; largest on record - 67 x 80 ( rarely over 50 ) feet with a trunk up to 3.3 feet wide. A large tree grows at Taylor Arboretum in Wallingford, PA ( near Philly ). This spectacular tree should be much more widely used as a landscape tree in eastern North America.
Its heart-shaped leaves, up to 12 x 12 ( rarely over 7 ) inches, are very large and tropical looking . The foliage is bronze purple at first, turning glossy deep green above and blue-white beneath during summer, persisting very late into the fall though usually remaining green until falling. The attractive foliage is borne on red stalks.
The mildly fragrant, yellowish-green flower clusters, up to 12 inches in length, appear during late spring.
They are followed by very attractive hanging clusters of bright-red berries during fall persisting well into winter. The berries are borne on female trees only so multiple trees are required for berry production. If used as a street tree, just a single or 2 males trees can pollinate the remainder of the block of trees. The berries are most spectacular after snowfall. Some songbirds like the berries while others don't so the persistence of the berry crop may vary from year to year depending on bird populations. If you enjoy birdwatching, this tree will likely draw interesting birds to your yard.
The very attractive, smooth bark is very light gray just like the American Beech.
The Igiri Tree is hardy zones 5 to 9 ( tolerating -20 F...survives as a perennnial only in zone 4b Ottawa, Canada ) in full sun preferring fertile, well drained acid loam ( though tolerating alkaline or just about any soil ). It is heat and drought tolerant and actually prefers hot humid summers.
Very easy to grow, it is wind tolerant even in coastal areas and is virtually immune to insect pests and disease. Pruning is generally for shaping only or limbing up for clearance...is rarely needed otherwise. The Igiri Tree is easy to transplant while dormant, small trees can even be transplanted bare root.

* photo taken @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C. on August 2004

* photos taken @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C. on Feb 2009




* photos taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC



* photos taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.



* photos taken on May 16 2010 @ Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD




* photos taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.





* photos taken on Feb 8 2014 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* historical archive photo

* photos taken on Apr 24 2016 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Apr 23 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on Mar 26 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash, D.C.

Carrieria calycina
A deciduous tree native to western and central China, that is related to the Idesia and can reach up to 40 feet.
The largest on record is 60 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 3.5 feet.
This tree grows very well in England and almost as large.
Its foliage is similar to the Idesia and is reddish at first in spring before turning to glossy green.
The fruits in summer are yellow and up to an inch in size.
Prefers deep, moist, well drained soil and is hardy from zone 7 to 9