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Franklin tree Theaceae Franklinia alatamaha W. Bartram ex Marshall Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet 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

Franklin tree leaf image
Franklin tree flower image
Franklin tree fruit image
Franklin tree twig image
Franklin tree bark image
Franklin tree form image
Franklin tree map image

Additional Range Information: Franklinia alatamaha is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information