Bee-Bee Tree (Tetradium daniellii) is a unique and alluring tree that’s a sanctuary for pollinators, hailing from the landscapes of Korea and China. This deciduous beauty, which reaches 25 to 30 feet in both height and width, is perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your lawn or woodland garden. Its smooth gray bark and broad, glossy, dark green foliage create a lush backdrop that retains rich color throughout the growing season, although fall color is generally absent.
Admired for its abundant late summer blooms, Bee-Bee Tree dazzles with fragrant clusters of small, white flowers, occasionally tinged with yellow or pink. These blossoms not only provide a stunning visual display but also a melodic one, as the buzz of honeybees taking nectar fills the air. Following the flowering, the tree produces striking reddish-purple seed pods, each revealing two shiny, black seeds, adding even more intrigue to its profile.
Easily grown in moist, well-drained soils with full sun exposure, this showy tree thrives with minimal maintenance, though it can spread quickly if unchecked. Despite its rapid initial growth, it remains free from serious pest or disease issues. Named after botanist William Freeman Daniell, this tree stands as a testament to beauty and ecological significance, offering refuge to birds and bees alike, while adding a striking, natural allure to any landscape.