Additional Information
Franklinia is a small tree or large shrub that was originally discovered in 1773 by John Bartman (Royal Botanist for North America appointed by King George III) and his son, William. Together, they found a small group of the species growing along the Altamaha River in Georgia, and since then no other wild populations have been discovered. This is a rare plant that now appears to be extinct in the wild. All specimens of Franklinia alatamaha available today are supposedly descended from seeds collected and grown by the Bartmans. Important ornamental features of the Franklin Tree include interesting fissured bark (sometimes almost appearing striped), and crisp white flowers with an egg-yolk colored collection of stamens in the center. Franklinia can be rather fickle in its cultural demands, requiring moist, well-drained acid soils with high organic matter content, and it does not transplant well.
