Dragontree is a fast-growing deciduous flowering tree native to China and Taiwan and has naturalized in parts of the USA including all areas of NC. It can grow up to 20 feet a year when young maturing at 50-75 feet tall. In spring it blooms with many clusters of large tubular flowers before leaf-out. The heart-shaped leaves are large up to 9 inches long. This tree is used as an ornamental tree and also grown for timber. In Asia, it has been used to help remove heavy metals in contaminated soils, to decrease air pollution and for reforestization. Dragon Tree is adaptable to soil types as long as they are well-drained and prefers full sun. It is susceptible to root rot in wet soils. It can be used as a shade tree in yards and parks or as a street tree. See the recommended native trees on the left side of the screen. The University of Florida states it has a high potential for invasiveness and does not recommend planting.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Cordate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
5-9 inch long heart-shaped leaves are velvety green above with paler undersides. In tropical climates will be evergreen.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
upright clusters of fragrant 1-3 inch long tubular creamy white to pale lavender flowers with a purple throat in mid-spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit detail
Oval capsule, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, filled with numerous (1,000s) small seeds; capsules initially sticky and green, later turning brown and dry, persistent.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Thin, grayish brown with shallow fissures.
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Stout, light brown stems with numerous light lenticels.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China, Taiwan
Wildlife value
Flowers attract bees
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Flowers
Edibility
Flowers can be added to a salad
Uses (ethnobotany)
Strong lightweight wood used as lumber, for musical instruments, surfboards and other uses.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Recreational Play Area
Landscape theme
Asian Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree; Shade Tree; Street Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous tree #flowering tree #deciduous #fast growing #lumber #lavender flowers #parks #street tree #white flowers #spring flowers #shade tree #large leaves #bee friendly