Scientific name: Halesia

These medium-sized, deciduous trees are very attractive lawn ornaments. Commonly known as Silver Bell Trees or Snowdrop Trees, they bear clusters of pendant, bell-shaped, white or pale pink flowers, in the spring. The blossoms last about a week and are followed by four-winged seedpods in the fall. H. carolina (Carolina Silver Bell) grows 20 to 30 feet high. It forms a rounded head of green, 3- to 5-inch leaves that turn yellow in the fall. H. monticola (Mountain Silver Bell) is found in North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. This variety grows 40 to 50 feet high and bears 1-inch, white flowers from pink tinged buds. Its variety, rosea, produces light pink blossoms. Another variety, H. diptera, can be grown as a small tree or large shrub. It is found from South Carolina to Florida and Texas.

Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils.

Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.