Franklin tree Theaceae Franklinia alatamaha Bartram ex Marsh. symbol: FRAL Leaf: Alternate, simple, narrowly obovate, finely serrated, 3 to 6 inches long, dark shiny green above, paler and hairy below. Flower: Showy, white with 5 petals arranged cup-like, yellow stamens in center, 2 to 3 inches across, appearing in late summer and up to first frost. Fruit: Nearly round woody capsule, 3/4 inch across, initially green and turning brown when ripe, splits 5 ways from the base. Twig: Moderate, brown, and somewhat silky, leaf scars shield-shaped, buds are hairy and taper to a long point. Bark: Thin, gray to reddish brown, develops shallow vertical splits with age. Form: A shrub or small tree with a spreading open crown, may reach up to 20 feet. Looks like: sweetbay magnolia - redbay - loblolly bay - stewartia Additional Range Information: Franklinia alatamaha is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting Franklin tree. More: Fall Color External Links: USDA Plants Database Horticulture © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson